Lester W. Shaw III

Lester Wilson Shaw III, 79, of Avon, beloved husband (for 56 years) of the late Dorothea Beth (Krashan) Shaw, passed away on Thursday, August 21, 2025, with loving family by his side. Born in Indianapolis, IN, he was son of the late Lester W. Shaw Jr. and Oma (Richardson) Kelley.

Lester graduated from Cromwell High School (CHS)in 1963. He married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea, the year after she graduated CHS, Class of 1964 on July 31, 1965. Lester continued his education at Chandler Evans, completing a machinist apprenticeship program. After his apprenticeship he worked there as a machinist prior to taking a position at Ensign-Bickford.

Lester and Dorothea lived in their first apartment in Middletown, CT where they welcomed their son in August 1966. They bought their first home in Cromwell, CT in February 1967 and welcomed their daughter in May 1969. In September 1978, they moved the family to Avon CT.

Lester excelled in his career, holding patents for non-electric initiation systems and had the honor of working with the US Navy Seals Teams. Prior to his retirement, he was the Health and Safety Engineering Manager at Ensign-Bickford/Dyno-Nobel in Simsbury, CT. Lester worked in the Simsbury location for 44 years.

During the years of raising his family, Lester was the Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 87 of Avon, he was an avid gardener, often growing and providing enough vegetables in the garden to feed his family as well as others. He loved to swim and was an incredible advocate for donating blood. Lester spent years donating every 59 days to the Red Cross, and during the Bob Steele Dinner event he was awarded the 10 Gallon Donation Award. Above all, Lester loved and cherished the time spent with family and will be remembered for the fun day-cations with his grandchildren.

Lester will be dearly missed by his family; son, Lester W. Shaw IV and wife Nann Thomson of Avon, CT; daughter, Dorie S. Landers of Glastonbury, CT; brothers; Edward (Cindy) Kelley Jr. of CT, John "Jack" (Mareyan) Shaw of NC, Charles (Donna) Shaw of MA, as well as sisters, Pam and Dawn and sister in-laws Cathy Shaw and Val Shaw; grandchildren, Ryan W. (Mallory) Landers of Boston, MA, Madison L. (Bennett) Landers of Boston, MA, Jonathan C. Shaw of Avon, CT, Marguerite C. (Douglas) Fifield of Ashland, MA, and Gregory (Becky) Kostka of Dallas, TX; great-grandchildren, Giuliana Fifield, Ricky Kostka and Piper Kostka; many beloved nieces and nephews.

Lester enjoyed the time he spent with the "DYNO-ROMEO" friendship and retiree club and the ladies of the "Red Hatters" who had welcomed Lester and made him an honorary member.

Predeceased by both parents, Lester and Oma; and stepfather Edward M. Kelley Sr. (aka Boompa); wife, Dorothea B. Shaw; brother, Michael Shaw, and son in-law, William B. Landers.

A time of visitation for family and friends will be held on, Sunday, August 31, 2025, from 11:00am – 1:00PM at the Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road, Avon, CT 06001. In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial donation to the American Red Cross or Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America for research. For directions, online memory and condolence please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com