Sigmund Shawkey was born April 15, 1914, in Cleveland, Ohio, and died Dec. 12, 2000, in Spring Hill, Florida. He lived with his wife, Irene, in the North Hill district in Akron, where he was a member of St. Martha's Church.
He worked for 33 years as a graphic designer for Firestone before retiring in 1980.
Shawkey won hundreds of awards, including two "Best in Show'' awards in the Governor's Senior Citizen Art Show in 1985 and 1986.
He was a captain for the 39th Engineer Combat Group in World War II and fought through the minefields of the Anzio beachhead in Italy, for which he received four medals.
