Charles W. "Bill" Shy
Charles W. "Bill" Shy passed away suddenly on January 25, 2008 while visiting with family in Mesa, Arizona at the age of 83 years.
He was born on March 10, 1924 in Union Township of Pike County, Ohio and was the son of William H. Shy and Agnes Downard Shy who preceded him in death.
Having suffered the loss of his mother at a very early age, he spent many of his growing up years in the home of his much-loved grandfather, Charles Shy, after whom he was named. Following his graduation from Stockdale High School, he worked briefly as a steeplejack in Canton, Ohio. He subsequently entered the United States Marine Corps, serving in the Marine Air Corps in the South Pacific in World War II.
On his return from military service, he met his beloved wife, Eileen Marie Henderson of Sciotoville, Ohio. They were later married at the Sciotoville United Methodist Church on June 7, 1947 and afterwards moved to Springfield, Ohio where they lived their married life of 56 years together until Eileen's death in January of 2004.
Although he worked for a short time for Buffalo Road Roller, he spent the rest of his working life with the D. T. & I. Railroad, starting as a brakeman and advancing to the level of trainmaster by the time of his early retirement for health reasons. Although he worked long and faithfully for the railroad,
Bill was known particularly by his family and friends for his many other talents. He was a master cabinetmaker and crafted numerous pieces of beautiful handmade furniture over many years. He not only created pieces for homes but also for local churches, including the chancel furniture for St. Mark's United Methodist Church of Springfield, Ohio of which he and his wife were founding charter members. His woodcraft skills were not limited to furniture, as he was also a maker of Appalachian and hammered dulcimers, Celtic harps, banjos and zithers, and he was a skilled worker in stained glass. In civic life, he was a member, with his wife Eileen, of the Springfield Community Beautification Committee and worked along with her on many projects for the enrichment and beautification of this city. He was a Master Mason in Clark Lodge at the Springfield Masonic Temple, a 32d degree Mason in the Scottish Rite and was also active in the Springfield Shrine Club and the Khana Shahar Grotto. Bill also served on the South Charleston Heritage Commission, in particular volunteering time to and donating artifacts for the restoration and enrichment of their historic train depot, which had been a stop on the former D.T & I. Railroad.
Although his talents and public services were many, he will be most remembered by his family and friends as an exceptionally kind and caring man who "never knew a stranger" and was extremely generous and compassionate in helping others.
He was preceded in death by a brother, John L. (Glenna) Shy.
He is survived by two sisters, Sallie (Delmer) Losasso, Burnas Mae (Paul) Collins, his three loving children, Kathy Shy Larson, John W. Shy and Jeffrey L. Shy, two grandchildren, Amy M. and Anthony W., sons-in-law Brian Larson and Philip Swanson and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the JONES-KENNEY-ZECHMAN Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. on Friday. Masonic services will be held at the funeral home on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 7:00P.M. Funeral services will be in the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the Rev. Dr. Steven Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Ferncliff Cemetery.
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