William "Bill" Shuttleworth

Born in Cedar Rapids, IA
Born on Dec 3, 1926
Departed on Oct 28, 2019

Memorial

William (Bill) Royce Shuttleworth, 92, died at his home in Cedar Rapids on October 28 surrounded by his loving family and nurse Rose Hayslett.

He was born to Vivian Craven and Frances Royce Shuttleworth in Cedar Rapids on December 3, 1926.
Bill was a renaissance man: in addition to his career as a lawyer he was an athlete, musician, artist, and held scholarly knowledge on a variety of subjects.  Perhaps most importantly, Bill was civic minded and cared deeply about the condition and affairs of the Cedar Rapids community and the world at large. As a cousin remarked upon his death "If everyone had a little bit of Bill in them, the world would be a much better place." 

At Franklin High School he lettered in football, basketball and track. He was named first Team All-State in basketball and was a member of the 1944 team that was runner up in the state championship.

Also while at Franklin Bill began to nurture his lifelong love of music by playing the French horn in the school orchestra and band. Later in life piano became his main instrument and he enlivened many family gatherings and parties with his ability to play anything from Mozart to Boogie Woogie. He was an amateur Mozart scholar and developed an extension collection of books on his life and works.

In December 1944 Bill enlisted in the US Navy.  He was not sent into battle overseas but remained in the Navy until discharged in July 1946.

Bill enrolled in the University of Iowa in the fall of 1946. On the Debate Team he developed his passion for spirited discussion. He received his BA (Phi Beta Kappa) in 1949 and an MA Degree in Speech Criticism in August 1951.
The most important event during his time at the University of Iowa was meeting his future wife Winifred (Teddy) Allen. They were married November 24, 1951.

After graduating from the University of Iowa Bill attended Yale Law School and graduated in 1953.
Bill joined the law firm of Elliott, Shuttleworth and Ingersoll that his father Craven had helped found in the 1920s. He became a partner in the firm and remained one until he become “of counsel” in the late 1990s. He was known for his expertise in real estate and probation matters.

Bill loved Cedar Rapids and was active in the community. He was legal counsel for Coe College and served on its Board of Trustees for many years, including two terms as chair.  He and Teddy supported Coe’s music and humanities programs and established the Shuttleworth Chair in History and the Shuttleworth Pre-Law Award. The latter recognizes the graduating senior bound for law school who best exemplifies integrity, humility, intelligence, graciousness, and unwavering commitment to excellence -precisely the qualities that we all admire in Bill.  

Bill supported the Cedar Rapids Symphony, was a board member and chair of its foundation and recently established the Shuttleworth Chamber Series. Bill also had a keen interest in world affairs and the pursuit of peace. He was active in the Iowa Division of the United Nations Association as Director and officer from 1957 until 2013, and supported the University of Iowa International Writers Program.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his sister Ann and is survived by his wife Winifred (Teddy) and their children Jeff, Jane and Amy Shuttleworth; his grandchildren Will and Judy Philips, and his nephew Alexander Craven Sarkis.
The family thanks his nurse Rose Hayslett and The Caregivers who ensured his quality of life and enabled him to live at home in his last years with the love of life.

In lieu of flowers consider giving either to one of Bill’s passions listed above, or a nonprofit of your choice. A celebration of his life will be held at the Cedar Rapids Country Club at 2:00 pm, December 7.