Shaw, Kenneth Alden (Ret. Col.)

Passed: 2014-10-19

Age: 80

Source: Charleston Gazette

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 2014-10-21

Information: Colonel Kenneth ""Ken"" Alden Shaw (Ret.) passed away Oct. 19, 2014 following a long battle with Parkinson's disease.  He was 80 years old.  Ken is survived by his wife, Gayle Twigger-Shaw; his sisters, Katherine Bowns of Tampa FL and Nancy Burns of Ashville NC; his children: daughters, Janie Frist (Moe) of Morgantown, Juli Seaman (Steve) of Leesburg VA and Carolyn Yost (Brian) of Clarksburg; and sons, Jim Spano (Beverly) of Ravenswood, Joe Spano (Donna) of Charleston and Mike Twigger of Charleston.  Ken had six grandchildren, Joseph Spano, Jr. Samantha Spano, Jessica Spano, Ian Frist, Jillian Frist and Hunter Yost.      Ken was a native of Charleston and he graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Kansas State University in 1957.  Following graduating from Kansas State, he moved to Ravenswood and was employed by Kaiser Aluminum as a chemical engineer.  Ken worked for Kaiser for 28 years, including his role as Carbon Plant Superintendent with his final post as Environmental Services Superintendent.  In this role, he managed the air, water, solid and hazardous waste environmental systems and procedues at the aluminum plant.  Ken aslo served as Carbon Plant Superintendent for the Kaiser Aluminum Smelter in Ghana, Africa in 1976.       Ken had a long and distinguished military career in the West Virginia Army National Guard.  He served in various line, staff and command positions with the Engineer Units of the State, which includes Battalion Commander of the 1092nd Engineer Battalion.  He further served as the Operations Officer and Commander of the 111th Engineer Group.  In 1963 he completed flight training, thereby becoming a fixed wing, rotary wing and instrument qualified pilot.  He served on continuous flight status until 1980 and was awarded the Master Aviator Badge.  Colonel Shaw's military training included 34 specialty schools, including the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair in Washington DC and the U. S. Army Command and General Staff College.  Colonel Shaw was placed on active duty in 1986 and appointed the United States Property and Fiscal Officer for West Virginia in Buckhannon.      Ken was an active member of the community and held positions on many organitzations in Jackson County, as well as national organizations such as Rotary International, Toastmasters International and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.  Ken was a longtime member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Ravenswood.  Funeral home visitation will be held at Wilson Funeral Home, 420 Lee St. W., Charleston, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 3 to 5 pm.  The family wishes that donations to the following organizations be given in lieu of flowers:  National Parkinson Foundation, Hubbard Hospice House and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.  Wilson Funeral Home, Charleston, is serving the Shaw family.