Earl Smallshaw

1933 - 2014

Earl Smallshaw, 80, of Middletown, passed away on January 3, 2014 at Middlesex Hospital after a brief illness. He was the beloved husband of Barbara (Bielefield) Smallshaw. Earl was born in Hartford on March 17, 1933, the only child of the late Fred and Olive (Mee) Smallshaw. After graduating from Middletown High School in 1951, he served in the United States Army, 42nd Airborne Division, from which he was honorably discharged in 1958. Before and after his Army service, Earl worked in many different capacities at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft/United Technologies for a total of 40 years. A lifelong resident of Middletown, Earl was best known for his love of model railroading. A skilled craftsman with painstaking attention to detail, he earned an international reputation as a master modeler whose work was the subject of numerous magazine articles and clinics on the art of model railroading. A life member of the National Model Railroad Association, Earl's layout drew visitors from around the country and overseas. In addition to his model railroading hobby, Earl spent his retirement years serving his community. He was a long-time member of First Church of Christ Congregational where he held many leadership positions. Earl also volunteered his time with Pine Grove Cemetery, including a term as President; Computers for Kids and the Community Christmas Dinner. He also enjoyed employing his craftsman skills on various projects at his home and his children's homes over the years. In addition to Barbara, his wife of 57 years, he is survived by his children: Susan Smallshaw Still and her husband, Ross of West Kingston, RI and their daughters Amy and Katie; Sally Smallshaw Taiman and her husband, Ed of Willington, and their sons Ben and Matt; a son-in-law Wade C. Appelman and his sons, Chris, Brian and Brendan; Steven Edward Smallshaw and his wife, Mari, of Lynchburg, VA, and their sons Wes, Rick, Charlie and Jimmy; and Scott Earl Smallshaw of Clinton and his daughters, Stephanie and Michaela and son, Jonathan. Earl also is survived by a niece and six nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Smallshaw Appelman of Lexington, MA. The family expresses appreciation for the loving and excellent care Earl received at the Hospice Unit of Middlesex Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to a charity of the donor's choice. A private interment will be held at a later date. Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church Street, Middletown is handling arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.