Dallas Arthur “Art” Shaw was born in Jacksonville, Florida on October 6th, 1939. Art was the son of Margaret ‘Farrell and Levi Shaw. Art spent his childhood in Palatka, Florida. Dallas Arthur, called “Sonny” as a boy, had a beautiful Irish Tenor voice and sang in a school quartet. In high school, Art was a fierce debater and he disc-jockeyed the school radio station. With his mother’s permission, Art joined the Army at the age of 17. He served for 28 years.
Dallas Arthur’s military career included, among other assignments, parachuting at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with the 82nd Airborne Division. He was an artillery officer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and he worked with the Office of the Inspector General overseas. His proudest moments included two tours of duty in Viet Nam, where he was part of the 1968 Tet Offensive among other actions. During his service in Viet Nam, he earned two Purple Heart medals for wounds in action and a Bronze Star with Valor. In addition, Art was awarded The Legion of Merit among other medals and honors with the United States Army.
After Art retired from military service as a Lieutenant Colonel, he became an active and enthusiastic member of the Rotary International clubs in both Palatka, Florida and Madison, Alabama. He served as president of both clubs and was a Paul Harris Fellow. Art was also a voracious reader of military history and the history of presidents of the United States. He was a bee keeping enthusiast, and a fan of college football, especially his beloved Maryland Terrapins. Art was a Christian and long-time member and contributor to Saint James Methodist Church of Palatka, Florida.
Dallas Arthur Shaw is survived by his loving wife, (ret) MAJ Mary Louise (Kleis) Shaw of Madison, Alabama, his daughter Dr. Linda Jackson, and son-in-law, (ret) LTC Kevin D. Jackson, his son, Naval Captain and Chaplain Stephen J. Shaw and daughter-in-law Terry Shaw, his brother James Patrick Shaw and sister-in-law Brenda Shaw of Tallahassee, Florida. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Joshua Shelledy of Oklahoma City, Dr. Maggie Shelledy (Emmett Sanders) of Edinburg, Texas, Timothy Shaw of New Orleans, and Ryan Shaw, Naval Electronics Nuclear Tech second class USS OHIO, and his great grandsons, Rex, and Baldwin.
The Shaw family would like to offer sincere thanks to the caregivers of Madison Manor and Affinity Hospice Care, of Madison, Alabama. Your warm, kind, and professional care guaranteed Arthur’s comfort and our family’s piece of mind. Thank you all, again.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Saint James United Methodist Church, 400 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177: The Parkinson Foundation at Parkinson.org. or Rotary International at rotary.org. Thank you.
