Monson William Bill Shaver

Monson (Bill) William Shaver, the son of Margaret Amelia (Nixon) Shaver and Milton Arthur Shaver, 7-5-1920 to 9-10-2010, left peacefully on his final flight. He led a full life of adventure, courage and quiet mischief. Born in Lenox, Iowa, Bill went from being a farm boy behind a horse drawn plow to flying 727s. He attended NW Missouri Teachers College with hopes of being an English teacher. WWII interfered and he was drafted into the Army Air Corp during WWII, becoming enchanted with both flight school and a blind date. Before leaving for the Pacific Theatre he married Joanne Wilson, and left 10 days later.
Following WWII Bill took his discharge in Manila, The Philippines. He received the Philippine Liberation Medal, WWII Victory medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Ribbon with 5 stars. Joanne arrived on the first commercial Philippines Airline flight to Manila after the war. Bill worked with a start up airline, FIATI, and then began his own, Trans Asiatic Airlines, by buying surplus war planes. When the Korean War began, he leased his planes to Gen. Claire Lee Chennault (of Flying Tigers fame) and flew for him. During the French Indochina War he flew 48 missions in 5 weeks in unarmed, unmarked C-119s carrying supplies to beleaguered French troops in Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam. He was later knighted into Napoleons French Order of the Legion of Honor.
Bill Joanne were together for 60 years and had four children: Patricia Schier (John), Betsy Shaver (Corky Olsen), Mary Shaver (Johnny Brown) and Monson W. Shaver III. Bill continued moving his family with him as his career took him across the Far East. He helped train the Royal Thai Border Patrol, moved hill tribe villages out of harms way in the jungles of SE Asia, flew med-evac, and any number of undercover missions besides his regular commercial flights. He flew in Japan, Korean, China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Sudan, Libya, etc. for Civil Air Transport, Southern Air Transport, Air America, Mediterranean Aviation, and the list goes on.
Bill Joanne moved to Ogden, Utah in 1974, and later to St. George, Utah. Joanne preceded him in death in November, 2004.
Memorials may be directed to: Civil Air Transport Association, 1953 N. Grand Oaks Ave., Altadena, CA 91001