The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

June 21, 2009

Shannon marks milestone

By Tom Davidson

WHEATLAND —

Wearing a dark suit and sporting a Kangol hat that resembles the kind English bobbies wear, Wilbert L. Shannon Sr., is an icon of the Shenango Valley, driving around town each day in the Cadillac with the WLS SR license plates.

Shannon’s been more than a funeral director during his 50 years in business. He is a study of efficient motion.

Before “a purpose-driven life” was the title of a best-seller, Shannon was living like that each day.

At 74, he could be retired, as son Wilbert Jr.’s been waiting in the wings for more than a decade. They work together in the family business: the Wilbert L. Shannon Funeral Home, 33 Broadway Ave., Wheatland.“After 50 years, the man is still continuing to do what he was called to do,” the Rev. Robert E. Chavers said Sunday as the Shannons celebrated a half-century in business with a prayer service and dinner at Wheatland American Legion Post 432.

Hundreds of friends, family and community members gathered to wish Wilbert well.

“Praise God for your integrity and humanity,” Barbara Blue-Harold said of the man she knew as a surrogate father. “You have been a blessing in my life.”

Shannon was lauded for his no-nonsense, honest approach to life. He doesn’t waste words and means what he says.

“He’s kind of grumpy, ain’t he?” the Rev. Geraldine Williams joked about the man of the hour.

The pastor of Ruth African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Sharon, said she’s grown to love Shannon and respect the high standards that he sets for his job.

“He’s a person you can rely on,” Rev. Williams said. “He is an individual who is easy to get along with as long as you do what he tells you.”

A native of Cheraw, S.C., Shannon was a toddler when — like dozens of other families — they moved from Cheraw to Farrell in the 1930s so his dad could work in the steel mills.

He was on the 1952 state championship basketball team and played with Farrell legend and fellow Cheraw native Julius McCoy.

For families in Farrell with Cheraw ties there’s only one place to turn when it comes time to plan a homecoming or funeral: Shannon’s. Since 1965, the funeral home has been tucked into the hillside above Broadway Avenue at Hamilton.

Shannon stood quietly and smiled from time to time as the well-wishers kept coming to the microphone with a tidbit about him: how he’d got them through a tough time or held a funeral and asked questions about money later or just was there to offer a word of wisdom when it was needed.

“There’s a lot of things I could say,” Shannon said.

He talked about a card with the poem “Footprints” on it that moved him, and the calls from people thanking him that have meant a lot over the years. He talked about how his faith has helped him through tough times, “when you stumble, that’s when God hears you,” he said.

Sometimes planning the services for someone he loved is “kind of tough,” he said.

“When I go into a home and hear a whisper, ‘Everything’s going to be all right now.” ’ it’s gratifying, he said.

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