Lt.C. Elwood Ryman Shaw, Ret., age 89 of Xenia, passed away unexpectedly Monday, May 12, 2008, at Ridgewood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Springfield, Ohio.

He was born September 29, 1918 near Yellow Springs, Ohio, the son of the late Harvey C. Shaw and Martha (Ryman) Shaw.

Elwood graduated from Pitchin High School in 1936 and from Cedarville College in 1940. He later received his Masters Degree in Science from The Ohio State University. He was a member of the Greene County Retired Teachers' Association and a life member of the Ohio Retired Teachers' Association. He was also a member of the Greene County Historical Society, the American Society of Plant Biologists, and the American Chemical Society. He was a member of the Clifton United Presbyterian Church where he served on the Board of Trustees for several years.

Elwood taught at Spring Valley High School for a short time before he was called into service in World War II. He served as a Lieutenant in the 45th Infantry Division, US Army (1942-1945), serving in Italy, France, and Germany. After his return, he continued in the Army Reserves and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army Reserves and a member of the Reserve Officers' Association. He continued to teach science at Cedarville College for several years, then taught part time at Antioch College while taking classes there toward his Masters Degree from OSU. He left teaching and went into research as a biochemist at the Charles F. Kettering Research Lab in Yellow Springs retiring in 1983 after 25 years. After retiring, he did electrical wiring, especially for neighborhood farmers.

Elwood was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Jean; and three brothers, Harold, Leroy, and Roger.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Pauline (Ferguson) Shaw; daughter, Lisa and husband, Chuck Eilerman of Kettering, Ohio; granddaughter, Erin Goldblatt of Indianapolis, Indiana; brother, Richard Shaw of Springfield; sisters, Esther Pyles of Springfield and Charlotte Shaw of Yellow Springs; sisters-in-law, Audrey Shaw of Yellow Springs and Wilma Shaw of Eaton, Ohio; nephews and nieces, Steven and Nancy Waddle and Tom and Rita Waddle of Springfield, Ron and BJ Shaw of Abilene, Texas, Carolyn and Pat Lowry of Eaton, Ohio, Gwen and David Sailor of Brown's Point, Washington; and numerous grandnieces and nephews.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 23, 2008 in the LITTLETON & RUE FUNERAL HOME. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 24, 2008 in Clifton United Presbyterian Church with Pastor Arbie Conn officiating. Burial will be in Cliton Union Cemetery.

Contributions in Elwood's name may be made to the Clifton U.P. Church (memorial fund); Clifton, OH 45316.