Warden - Reeve William Howard "Howard" Shaw

Other Events:

• Interesting: elected office, polictics
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-6096
• Elected Office: 1933, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Reeve - Ayr
• Elected Office: 1941, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Warden for the County of Waterloo

Notes:

Ex-Reeve W. Howard Shaw Passes

A former reeve of Ayr and ex-warden of Waterloo County, William Howard Shaw of Galt passed away on Tuesday at South Waterloo Memorial Hospital in his 79th year. He was born in Peel County, near Bolton, on August 30, 1884, a son of the late Thomas C. Shaw and Margaret Goodfellow Shaw. Mr. Shaw became a telegraph operator with the old Grand Trunk Railway and subsequently with the Canadian Pacific Railway, where he was employed for 38 years prior to his retirement in 1949. He came to Ayr from Alliston, and resided here for 36 years before moving to Galt in 1949. He was an operator at Ayr depot for many years but during the latter part of his service worked in Galt. The late Mr. Shaw was intensely interested in municipal affairs and found an outlet for his talents on the Ayr council. He was elected reeve in 1933, and served in this capacity for a record term of 11 consecutive years. In 1941 he was elected warden of Waterloo County council. During his tenure of office Mr. Shaw earned the title, Ayr's "working reeve." This accolade was accorded him because of his knowledge of roads and construction. On many occasions he supervised, or actually undertook projects himself at a period when no payment was allotted to the reeve or council. He was chairman of the County council building committee at the time the county registry office was constructer, in Kitchener. He was a devoted student of Masonry and was a past master of Ayr Masonic Lodge, as well as the capable secretary for many years. He was also a Past Principal of the Paris Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. Following his removal to Galt, he became affiliated with Alma Lodge in that city and Waterloo Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. Mr. Shaw was a member of the former Ayr Presbyterian congregation while a resident here, and later of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Galt, where he also served as an elder. Besides his wife, the former Eldora Upton of Ayr, he is survived by a daughter, Joan of Toronto, two sons, Magistrate William A. of Red Deer, Alta., and H. Grant of Niagara Falls, Ont.; three brothers, James of Mono Road, Charles of Brampton and George of Bolton. Six grandchildren also survive. He was predeceased by a son, Ross, in 1954 and a brother, Reginald.

The Funeral

Resting at the Coutts & Son Funeral Home, St. Andrew's St., Galt, where service will be held on Thursday at 2.30 p.m., with interment in Ayr Cemetery. A Masonic service under the auspices of Alma Lodge will be held at the Funeral Home tonight (Wednesday) at 8 p.m. In kindness to the family donations to the Canadian Cancer Society will be accepted at the Funeral Home.

The Ayr News Jun 27 1963 pg 1

William married Frances Catherine Gerbig 2 Aug 1915, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Frances (daughter of Charles H. Gerbig and Margaret Wyllie Guthrie) was born 30 Nov 1889, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 23 Sep 1927, Barton Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried 24 Sep 1927, Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Howard Grant Shaw was born 7 Mar 1924, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1994.

William — Emily Eldora Upton. Emily (daughter of Walter Upton and Eliza Martin) was born 16 Jul 1905, Elmvale, Flos Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario; died 12 Jun 1983, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 15 Jun 1983, Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Walter Ross Shaw was born 1933; died 1954; was buried , Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.