William Henry Shields

William Henry Shields Sr, known fondly as Bill, passed away peacefully after enjoying excellent health until his final days. Born on April 2, 1932, in Long Island, NY, he was the eldest of three boys born to William and Frances Shields. He was preceded in death by his wife Jane who passed away on February 17, 2025.

During his youth, Bill excelled at tennis, golf, and ice hockey and developed a deep love for hunting and fishing in his teenage years-passions that would shape much of his adult life. He attended Deerfield Academy for high school and went on to graduate from Rutgers University as an English major in 1953. After college, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving during the Korean War from 1954 to 1957. He often reflected on his time in the Marines as the most formative years of his life, crediting those experiences with instilling in him lifelong values of leadership, discipline, and teamwork.

After his military service, Bill began his professional journey with Mead Paper Company. He steadily advanced through the company, living in Severna Park, Maryland, before relocating with his family to company headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, in 1965. Although professionally successful, he found Dayton lacking in outdoor opportunities, particularly for hunting and fishing. In 1966, he made a career move to Old Salt Seafood Company and moved his family to Easton, Maryland-a place rich in the outdoor lifestyle he so enjoyed and close to Chancellor Point, the family farm acquired by his parents in 1949.

Bill thrived at Old Salt and ultimately moved to become President of Seawatch in Milford, Delaware which then acquired Old Salt. He was able to move the headquarters back, closer to their home in Easton where the Seawatch headquarters remain today. As retirement approached in 1991, his thoughts turned to the West, recalling his days working on a dude ranch as a teenager. In 1992, he and his beloved wife Jane visited Bozeman, Montana, and immediately fell in love with its vast landscapes and its host of outdoor activities. They purchased an 80-acre property, complete with pastures for horses-fulfilling Bill's lifelong dream of owning a ranch.

In Bozeman, Bill and Jane embraced the lifestyle. Bill enjoyed upland bird and big game hunting, trout fishing, skiing, and horseback riding, while Jane found joy in book club, the Red Hat Society, and time spent with dear friends. Winters were spent RVing to Arizona, where he hunted quail over their German short haired pointers, and they could both enjoy the warmer climate.

In September 2020 a forest fire near Bozeman engulfed the home that they had built, and they had to decide whether to rebuild or move elsewhere. They decided to move back East and be closer to their children. They moved back to Easton in November 2020, living in Waverly and enjoying the rest of their lives close to their loved ones, sharing memories of their days out West. It was a full life.

Bill is survived by his two brothers, John Shields of Bozeman, MT, David Shields of Arlington, VA, his daughter, Diane Laabs (Doug), his grandson, Scott Laabs (Jamie), great-granddaughter, Kinley Laabs, great-grandson, Rylan Laabs, all from Richmond, VA, his son, Bill Shields (Elizabeth) of Trappe, MD; and his daughter, Cathy Shields (Olya) of Annapolis MD.

A private family gathering will be held to celebrate Bill's life.

For online condolences, please visit: www.fhnfuneralhome.com