William "Wedge" Calvin Shaw November 17, 1946, to March 12, 2024.

Top down, hat backwards, blaring his favorite music in his 1979 MG Midget will be how some remember Wedge.

Throughout Wedge's life he wore many hats.

Starting with his birth cap.  He was born on November 17, 1946, in Wichita Falls, Texas, the middle child of his parents William Dub Shaw and Bess Marie (Laue) Shaw. The family had already welcomed his older sister Dana three years before.  The Shaw family continued when they added his younger sister Martha, born three years to the day after him.  They lived in the home that his dad, a well-respected and loved WWII veteran,  built with Wedge's Uncle Parnell.

Wedge lived there during his mortar board hat years: his early education was spent at Zundy Elementary and later at Hirschi Junior High and Senior High School, where he graduated in 1965.  He helped the Huskies go to state tournament  in football; Wedge was legendary for his warrior attitude on the football field.  On one occasion he broke his ankle but continued to play.  He later ran at the state track meet and helped Hirschi bring back many trophies. He was an all around sports man, being known as an avid baseball player, softball player, volleyball player and racquetball player.  He rode his bicycle throughout the Hotter 'n Hell 100 and loved riding with his neighbor friends.  Even in his 70's Wedge was walking and doing spin classes with his children multiple times a week.

Shortly after high school, Wedge added his husband hat. On March 2, 1967, he married his fiery girlfriend LaVessa Martin. They met in the hallway and immediately caught the glimpses of each others' future together.  Throughout the next few years they danced at the Hirschi dances clearing the floors and were known for their style together.  They were destined to be together.  And, he said, "If you know you are going to be together forever why waste time?"  So, they married and started a family. The idea of love at first sight was an understatement when it came to how they looked at each other and continued to look at each other for 57 years.

The next hat was adding more family members.  LaVessa and Wedge welcomed their first child in September of 1967;  William "Kevin" was born; and after a nine year hiatus they welcomed their daughter Willissa Irene in 1976.   And, then daughter Jessica Marie in 1979.  And, lastly their family was complete with the birth of their son Martin Kyle in 1981. Together, Wedge and LaVessa raised their family and instilled values of love for God and each other. They provided stability despite the storms of life, and Wedge was steady in his never-ending love and devotion as he provided for his family. He was taught to love his family and put the family first despite the other hats that he was juggling.  Wedge provided opportunities for his children to have memories filled with love, laughter and accomplishments. His eclectic style of music and the feelings that it gave created the families' ongoing love for music. There were many mornings that he danced to music in his workout clothes before work.

The caring hat: Wedge took care of those around him with his love and support.  It was not uncommon for people to come to the house and to spend time talking with Wedge at the breakfast table.  He woke up in the morning, read his paper, and sat out on the porch praying while thinking about the people that he loved.

The hard hat: At the the start of his career, Wedge coupled working at the highway department and going to Midwestern University while being successful at business school.  In 1974 Wedge started working at PPG Industries, a new company to Wichita Falls. He helped build the company and offered 42 years of service to PPG.

The grandfather hat:  In 1997 Wedge welcomed his first grandchild, Keith William, into the safety of his hats.  In 2009 he welcomed his second grandchild Gavin, and in 2014 he welcomed his first granddaughter, Rhiannon.  In 2020, Wedge continued to welcome family members, grandchildren  Isabella, Oscar, and Sofia.

The illness hat: In 2018, Wedge suffered a physical setback that caused degeneration and compromised his usual progression. Throughout the next several years, the top-down dancer, hard hat and others started to get hung up.  But, he maintained his caring heart hat, loving husband and dad hat.

Through the years of 2020-2024 glimpses of the hats and love were shown that would remind those around Wedge about all of the wonderful hats that he designed and wore so perfectly.  He would warm your hands under his blanket, play with the 3 year old grandchild or whistle with his hands while sitting outside with his oldest grandchildren as part of their wolf pack.  He walked the streets at Halloween with the grandchildren and had snowball fights with the others. With his family he caressed their arms and kissed their hands while they sat with him.  He reached out and kissed those who were helping him.  He sang along to"Jesus Loves Me" and the others that were being sung with him.  In the last few weeks, Wedge knew and remembered the lyrics to the songs that he blasted in the car while singing along.

The everlasting hat:  Wedge left the world on March 12, 2024.  He was able to put on his hat that he will wear for eternity and doing so left behind the hundreds, even thousands of people who were encompassed in the love of his hats throughout his life.  The love that is felt reverberates in the songs that people sing, in the kindness that is shown in others, in the cheer of the crowds, in the shoulders that are so willingly given, and the love that continues to live on throughout others who were affected by his loving kindness and generosity.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday March 19, 2024, at Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Crestview Memorial Park under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home .

He is preceded in death by his parents Dub and Bess Shaw and by his son Kevin Shaw.

He is survived by his sisters, Dana Howden and Martha Shaw; wife LaVessa; daughter Jessica (Michael) Alsup; Willissa (Peter); Martin (Steven); and grandchildren, Keith, Gavin, Rhiannnon, Isabella, Oscar and Sofia. In addition, Wedge is survived by many other family members and friends.

Special thank you for all of the love and support of hospice.

One of Wedge's favorite bible versus is indicative of his life and values "Mount up with wings as eagles run and not grow weary walk and not faint."   Isaiah 40:31