A. Earl Shaw Jr.

A. Earl Shaw, Jr., a long-time resident of East Greenwich, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2025 at the age of 97 years. Born August 21, 1928 in Providence, RI, he was the son of the late Albert E. Shaw and Alice (Baker) Shaw.

He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Elsie Irene Shaw, his son, Mark Jonathan Shaw, and his brothers, Edward Tillinghast Shaw and Nathan Arnold Shaw.

He is survived by his son, Earl Justin Shaw (and his former wife, Liset Pena), his son, Gary Edward Shaw (and his companion, Lisa), and his daughter, Sarah Ainsworth Corrao (and her husband, Gregory Corrao). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Victoria Lynn Shaw, Ella Rose Corrao, Michael Shaw Corrao and William Earl Corrao, and his sister-in-law, Joyce Barker Shaw, and her daughters, Susan Swan (and her late husband Jay) and Lesley Goodrich (and her husband Rob).

He was a 1946 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School, a 1950 graduate of Brown University, and a 1956 graduate of Boston University School of Law.

At the time of his graduation from Brown University, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Marine Corp to serve three years of active duty. He was a combat veteran of the Korean War. He led artillery forward observer teams directing artillery fire power, while attached to rifle companies of the Fifth, Seventh and First Marine Regiments. He received a Presidential Unit Citation for service including the fall offensive in 1951.

After Marine Corp service he returned to civilian life, passed the Rhode Island Bar, and began a law practice of 69 years to his recent retirement in 2025. He was a sole practitioner, concentrating in the last forty years in matters of estate planning and administrations, wills, trusts, and probate. In his early years, he served as Probate Judge and Town Solicitor of the Town of East Greenwich and the Town of West Greenwich.

He was a longtime member of several organizations, including First Baptist Church of East Greenwich, East Greenwich Rotary Club, Manchester F.&A.M., Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Providence, and Palestine Temple of Shriners.

With his wife's encouragement, at the age of 50, he acquired an alto saxophone at an auction at the Varnum Armory, learned how to play it, and became a long-time member of the Shriners Concert and Marching Bands. For many years, he was a member of the Warwick Civic Orchestra and the Providence Civic Orchestra of Senior Citizens. He also played in a small swing group, sometimes called "Jerry's Angels", at the Cranston Senior Center.

He enjoyed playing swing band music of the 1920's through the 1950's, but nothing came close to the joy he had from the love of his wife, Elsie, and his family gatherings. He will be remembered as a dedicated father and grandfather.

Visitation will be held Friday, December 19, 2025, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home, 659 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick. His services and burial with Military Honors will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of East Greenwich, 35 Peirce St., East Greenwich, RI 02818.