Robert Eugene Shannon, (USN, Ret.)
Robert Eugene Shannon was born in Aberdeen, WA to Joseph and Irene Shannon on January 27, 1920 and peacefully passed away on April 24, 2014.
He was predeceaced by his son Richard, daughter Irene and brother Larry. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Dorothy, daughters Donna and Jennifer, son Todd (wife Rachael) grandson Geoffrey. granddaughters Haley, Leah and Marci, niece Kathy, nephew Richard, grandnephews Tyler and Trevor, and a loving extended family.
He graduated Aberdeen High in 1937 winning state championships in both tennis and swimming, and enrolled at UW (Sigma Chi) in 1940 when WWII interrupted his studies.
Bob joined the Navy in 1941 and earned his wings in 1942. He served in active duty as a pilot, instructor and Commanding Officer of Squadron VF891, remaining in the Naval Reserve for 20 years and achieving the rank of Commander. He returned to UW, graduated in 1947 (Beta Alpha Psi) and became an Associate Lecturer while at the same time building Shannon & Associates, a top-25 CPA firm in Kent. Bob also co-owned Kent Licensing Agency, an auto licensing subagent for the WA State Department of Licensing, and co-founded and served as President Emeritus of the WA Assn. of Vehicle Subagents.
Dedicated to serving the City of Kent, Bob was a member (and past president) of Kent Kiwanis for over 50 years, cofounder (and past president) of Meridian Valley Country Club, and an active member of St. James Episcopal Church. The City of Kent honored him by naming January 27th “Robert E. Shannon Day”.
Bob also enjoyed playing the piano and harmonica, and his hobbies included racquetball and swimming. Bob kept in contact with his war buddies through active participation in the First Friday Club of Retired Navy Pilots, the Tailhook Assn., and planning Squadron reunions with his wife Dorothy, always including both pilots and spouses. He was a loving family man who is a great loss to those left here and a significant gain to those in Heaven. We will dearly miss him but are grateful he is no longer in pain and now at peace.
A celebration service will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Medina on Saturday, May 3rd at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Red Cross would be appreciated.
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