Dr. Robert A. Shaw, age 80, passed away on October 21, 2017 with his family by his side at Mercy Hospital of Defiance. 
  
Robert was born in Fostoria, Ohio on February 11, 1937.   He graduated from Fostoria High School and went on to Ohio Wesleyan University graduating in pre-med.  Robert then received his medical degree at The Ohio State University in 1963.  He completed his medical residency in family practice at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and joined the faculty as a professor of medicine in family practice.  As a physician during the Vietnam War, Robert was drafted into the military and joined the Alaska Area Indian Health Service stationed in Bethel, Alaska for two years.  While in Alaska, Robert provided comprehensive health services to Alaska Natives (Eskimos, Aleuts, and Indians).

In 1970, Robert joined the Defiance Clinic providing pediatric and family medicine services to the Defiance community.  Pursuing a lifelong dream, he left the Defiance Clinic and completed a psychiatry residency at the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo in 1982.  Thereafter, he practiced psychiatry in private practice in Defiance until his retirement in 1999. 
 
Robert is survived by his beloved wife, Bonnie J. Shaw (Wolf) to whom he was married for 40 wonderful years.  Together, they have a large blended family of 6 children.  Robert is also survived by his sons Dr. John (Dr. Amy Brunswick) Shaw, Mark (Catherine) Shaw, Kevin (Beth) Lammon; daughters Deborah (Edmund) Breeden, Jill Gentile, April (Scott) Goddard; his 18 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Robert is preceded in death by his first wife, Connie Shaw (French); his parents Elmer and Laura Shaw; his brother Donald Shaw, his sisters Jean Flack and Joan Gillespie.

Friends and family may call from 3:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance, and for one hour prior to services at the church. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, October 27th at St. Paul United Methodist Church, with Rev. Mary Jo Rossman Bray and Rev. Donna Stutzman officiating. Burial will follow the service at Riverside Cemetery, with graveside military rites accorded by VFW #3360.
 
  
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to The American Cancer Society. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com.