Kathryn B. Shaver

OSWEGO – Kathryn B. Shaver, 97, of Oswego, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2024.

Born in Van Etten NY, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Mabel (Dart) Booth.

Kathryn graduated in 1943 from Marcus Whitman Central School in Rushville NY as Valedictorian.  She graduated from New York State University at Albany in 1947  with a B.A. degree in English/Education.  She continued her support for the university as a life member of the Alumni Association.  In 1948, Kathryn graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio, with a B.S. in Library Science.  She also completed graduate courses at both Syracuse University and SUNY Oswego.

Kathryn had a career in Library Science for more than 30 years.  She completed summer work at Cortland Public Library and  Cornell Public Library, and went on to serve as Librarian of various Central NY schools.  She worked at Marion Central School, Sodus Central School, Minetto Union School and ended her career at Oswego City School District, where she was a K-6 Librarian for 20 years.

Kathryn was very involved within her profession as well as with the Oswego community. She was a member of the NYS Teacher’s Association and NYS Retired Teacher’s Association. She served on the Board of Directors for Oswego Employees Federal Credit Union, was a member of the Oswego-Onondage School Library Association, and NYS Educational Communications Assn.  She served as an Oswego representative to the advisory council for the BOCES Instructional Materials Center and for the Oswego County School Library System. Kathryn was a member and past president of Delta Kappa Gamma Honorary Society for Women in Education, a member of New York Library Assn., and volunteered for more than 18 years at Penfield Library, SUCO.

Kathryn was affiliated with Oswego City Friends of the Library, was a life member of the Minna Anthony Nature Center, a member and past president of PEO Sisterhood, a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Women’s Teachers Sorority, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star since 1945.   She was an honorary member of Susquenango Power Squadron.

Kathryn loved to travel and was fortunate to visit all 50 states, Kenya, Communist Russia, Arctic Norway, Elderhostels, the Greek Isles, Turkey, Iceland, and the Black Sea.  She also loved spending summers on Murray Isle in the Thousands Islands and cruising on the family boat.  Destinations included the Erie Canal System, the Great Lakes, and the Trent Severn and Rideau canals in Canada.  She loved reading and playing bridge.

Kathryn is survived by her sons Michael (Veronica) Shaver of Oswego, and Thomas P. (Kathleen) Shaver of Coupeville, WA, grandchildren Daniel (Julie) Of Clayton, Jonathan of Oswego, Sarah Towler (Christopher) of Potsdam, Grant (Cassidy) of Seattle, WA, Kristin (David) Franklin of Tacoma, WA, and  Megan (William) Franz of North Bend, WA, as well as 11 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Kathryn was preceded in death by her husband Paul M. Shaver in 2007.