Arnold Benjamin Shaw
July 01, 2006
Arnold Benjamin Shaw, 91, formerly of Water St., Dighton, and also from North Main St., Fall River died Saturday, July 1, 2006 at the Heatherwood Nursing Home in Newport after a brief bout with cancer. He was a Mayflower descendent, and was married December 2,1939, to the late Ellen (Barrows) Shaw. They were together for 59 years prior to her death .
He was the owner of Shaw's Boat Yard in Riverside RI, which he opened with his father in 1931 and moved the boatyard to Dighton in 1951 operated there until his retirement in 1978.
Along with his father he built a 36' wooden yacht there named the “SHAWNEE” which they launched in 1957, and which was captained by Mr. Shaw until the summer of 2005.
Born October 25, 1914 in North Kingstown RI, a son of the late Frederick Arnold Shaw & the late Natalie (Baker) Shaw, he lived in Dighton for 32 years having moved to Fall River in 1987 after his retirement. He has also lived several years in Seekonk and Riverside, RI.
Mr. Shaw had an impressive record of leadership and community service. His boating affiliations include: Past Commodore and Life Member of the Taunton Yacht Club, having earned 54 merit marks, one for each year of service. He was a life member of the United States Power Squadron, where he taught many courses to local boaters; Past District Commander of District 14 United States Power Squadron; Life Member and Past Commander of Narragansett Power Squadron; Past Neptune Rex and the Royal Order of Pilot Fish for District 14,and he helped to form the Taunton River Power Squadron where he served as treasurer for over 39 years. Past Commodore of Narragansett Cruiser Association, member of North American Cruiser Assoc. , member of Boat Owner's Association of the United States, and from 1953 to 1988 served as Harbor Master for the Town of Dighton.
Mr. Shaw was a 75-year veteran of the Boy Scouts of America, having joined troop 25 in Providence as a young man. He also served as Scout Master of Troop 1 Seekonk and with the Advancement Committee of the Anawon Council of Boy Scouts. He joined the Sea Scout program, and earned the highest rank of Quartermaster Sea Scout.
As a member of the Dighton Community Church, he served as chair, of the property, finance, and parish committees, and also served as trustee, moderator, and auditor of the church. He served as delegate to the Ballow-Channing District, and helped to found and chair the Men's Group of the church. He also served as Superintendent of the church's cemetery for many years.
He is a former member of the Town of Dighton Finance Committee, and was past commissioner of the Dighton Electric Light District. He served as a Director of the North Dighton Cooperative Bank, and at the time of it's merger with the Fall River People's Cooperative Bank of Fall River he was serving as a Vice President and became a Director of what is now the Bank of Fall River where he continued in an advisory capacity.
He has an extensive history of service with the Masonic organizations of the region as follows. He was a Past Master and Life Member of the Netop Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Seekonk, and presently is a Life Member of the Eastern Star Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Rehoboth. He was a Past District Deputy Grandmaster for the Taunton 28th Masonic District, and a member of Past District Deputy Grand Master's Assoc. He was a Past Master of the 25th Lodge of Instruction and has received his 50 year service metal.
In addition, he was a recipient of the Joseph Warren Medal for Distinguished Service; several times Past High Priest of the Walter E . Marcy Royal Arch Chapter of Seekonk and a member and chaplain of Fall River Royal Arch Chapter. He was a Past District Deputy Grand High Priest of the 3rd Capitular District; a member of the Order of the High Priesthood and recipient of the Benjamin Hurd Medal; Past Thrice Illustrious Master of Adoniram Council # 8 of RI; Past Commander of Bristol Commandery # 29 of Attleboro, and an Acting Prelate. He was a member of the Past Commanders Association; a member of the MA & RI Assoc. of Knights Templar Commanders; charter member and past Treasurer of and master of the Metacomet Daylight Lodge of Taunton; Past Governor of What Cheer York Rite College No. 43; and the Knights of York Cross of Honor. He has received the Order of the Purple Cross and was a charter member of the Mayflower York Right College #105; a recipient of the Sovereign College Service Award and a member of the Knights of York.
He was also a member of the Roger Williams Priory # 48, Past Excellent Chief Colonial Council - Knight Masons No.19 , member Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the State of RI; life member of the Council of Anointed Kings; recipient of the Knight York Cross of Honor; Life Member of the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Fall River; Past Illustrious Master and Chaplain of the Fall River Council Royal and Select Masters; member of Palestine Shrine of Cranston , the Shrine Club of South Eastern Ma, the Shedad Grotto of Brockton, the Azab Grotto of Fall River, the Lunar Grotto of Taunton, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon , Massasoit Forest # 91of Pawtucket RI. He served as Chaplain of St. Mark's Royal Arch Chapter Taunton; Prelate of Godfrey de bouillon Commandery # 25 and Steward of the Taunton Council of Royal and Select Masters.
Order of Eastern Star affiliations include, three times Past Patron of the Star of Bethlehem chapter # 151 O.E.S., Past Patron Weetamoe Chapter # 57; and served as Grand Patron of MA. He also served the Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star for 2 sessions; was Past Chairman of the Home Board and Education committee of the Grand Chapter, and served on the By-Laws Revision committee.
He is the father and father in law of Helen S. & Frederic Graul of Lakewood Colorado; Margaret S. & Brian Kinney of Federal Heights, Colorado; and Betsy S. & Neil Leerssen of Newport, RI; he was grandfather of Ben Graul, Linda Graul, Sarah Graul, Heather Kinney ,Wayne Kinney, Christopher Yalanis, Gregory Yalanis, and Nicole Robinson, he also had 11 great grandchildren.
He was also the father of the late Judith H. Shaw and he was the brother of the late Natalie Thompson. He was also the uncle of the late Nicholas Trainor.
Funeral Information
A funeral service will be held Monday, July 10, 2006 at 11:00am in the Dighton Community Church, 2036 Elm Street Dighton. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Calling hours will be held Sunday, July 9, 2006 from 2-5 pm in the Hathaway Community Home for Funerals, 900 Buffinton St., Somerset, MA. Fraternal Services will be held as follows; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at 3:30PM; the Order of the Eastern Star at 4:00pm; followed by a Masonic Service at 4:30.
Donations Information
Gifts in his memory can be sent to the Dighton Community Church 2036 Elm St., Dighton MA 02715.