Founder of Willis Shaw Express dead at 95

Willis Dean Shaw, the founder of Elm Springs' Willis Shaw Express trucking company, died Sunday at Circle Of Life hospice in Springdale, according to his obituary.

He founded Willis Shaw Express, which began as Willis Shaw Produce, in 1938. The company was purchased by Del Monte in the 1970s, and repurchased by a Shaw family and employee group in 1983. It was acquired by Comcar Industries in the 1980s, and still operates out of Elm Springs.

He is survived by two sons and their families, Bobby and wife Diane of Springdale, Dennis and wife Evelyn of Tontitown; four grandchildren, Sherri Dillard and husband Jeff of Fayetteville, Brian Shaw and wife Lynn of Fayetteville, Jason Shaw and wife Jennifer of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Damon Shaw of Fayetteville; eight great-grandchildren, Austin and Ashlyn Dillard, Connor, Mason, Jacob, Caitlyn, Spencer and Ainsleigh Shaw.

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