Julia S. Shaw

Julia S. Shaw, of Oberlin, died Friday July 25, 2025. She was born March 30, 1925 in Akron, to Mary Gerrish Seiberling, originally of Oberlin, and Willard P Seiberling, of Akron. She attended Old Trail School and Oberlin College, where she met her future husband, John. They were married at Stan Hywet Hall in Akron on August 14, 1948.

Julia taught first grade at Westtown School in Westchester, PA, and then kindergarten in Baltimore, MD. After her own three children had started school, she returned to teaching primary grades in Hudson, Ohio, first as a substitute teacher, then for 18 years as a Title One reading tutor. Julia also taught English to college students with John in India and China. 

Brass rubbing in English parish churches was a favorite hobby of both John and Julia. In 1976, they imported facsimiles of many monumental English brasses, and opened one of the first brass rubbing centers in the US on Mackinac Island, MI. They operated this center for six summers. 

Julia’s volunteer activities included reading to and tutoring elementary school students, and working as a guide at Stan Hywet Hall in Akron. Her leisure activities included handbell ringing, bible study, reading, cross stitch and knitting. She was a talented artist, and enjoyed sketching, calligraphy, and flower arranging, which she continued for many years at Kendal. She and John together loved ice skating, dancing and walking.

Julia is survived by children, Frank Holcomb Shaw of Roseville, MN, Mary Gerrish Houlgate of Kenilworth, England, and Clara Shaw Hardy of Northfield, MN; nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, John Burnham Shaw; parents, Willard and Mary Seiberling; brother, Bill Seiberling and sister, Anne Davis, who also lived at Kendal.

 A memorial service will be Saturday October 25 at 2:00 pm at Kendal at Oberlin, 600 Kendal Drive, Oberlin, Ohio, 44074

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