Joe Nelson Shaw, age 69, of Buckhannon, died Sunday, January 8, 2017, at UPMC Montefiore in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Born April 9, 1947, in Buckhannon, he was a son of the late Burl N. and Ila Josephine Smiers Shaw. Joe was a 1965 graduate of Buckhannon-Upshur High School. During his time there, he was a member of the baseball, basketball and 1963 State Championship football team. He went on to earn a degree in Secondary Education from Fairmont State College, as well as a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Pensacola Christian College. He was passionate about his career as a Christian Educator, which took him all over the country. During his career, Joe served as a teacher, coach, bus driver, athletic director and administrator. Receiving Jesus of the Bible as his Savior and Master directed his teaching pathway and placement for much of his career. Joe believed strongly that he was governed by a moral authority, the Bible – the Holy Spirit to help him interpret how to live righteously and to love people. He worked fervently to protect the unborn and to maintain our constitutional rights, which included working to see that those opposed to religious freedom didn't take away our “God-given freedoms.” He is survived by a son, Ryan Nelson Shaw, and wife, Wendy, of Columbus, Ohio; a daughter, Kimberly Dawn Oliver, and husband, J.R., of Elkview; two grandsons, Trooper Shaw, of Columbus, Ohio, and Kyle Jacob Oliver, of Elkview; two granddaughters, Claire Oliver, of Elkview, and Audra Shaw, of Columbus, Ohio; a sister, Beatrice Burnside, and husband, Eric, of Buckhannon; two nephews, Joshua Alan Burnside, and wife, Keely, and Dr. Robert Adam Burnside, and wife, Jessica, all of Buckhannon; a niece, Virginia Pearl Croaff, and husband, Erick, of Buckhannon; two great-nephews, Jasper Rhys and James “Jay” Clifford Burnside, both of Buckhannon; two great-nieces, Katherine Quinn and Willa Shaw Burnside, both of Buckhannon; and an aunt, Eleanor Smiers, of Fairmont. Funeral service was held January 10 at Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home in Buckhannon with Rev. Roger Foster officiating. Interment was in the Heavner Cemetery in Buckhannon. Online condolences may be made at www.polingstclair.com
