CHARLES PHILIP “PHIL” SHANNON

Phil Shannon was born Dec. 18, 1915, and died Aug. 24, 2008, at the age of 92.

He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to Robert Porter Shannon and Julia Edna Vibert Shannon. He attended Prince of Wales, King Edward and Shawnigan Lakes schools.

He was working for American Can Co. in Seattle, Wash. at the start of WWII.

He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and served from 1940 until 1945. After completing flight school he was assigned as an instructor pilot in Saskatchewan.

He was then transferred to England where he towed gliders to North Africa in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.

In the final years of the war he flew bombing missions over Germany in the Halifax aircraft as a member of the 427th Bomber Squadron (Lions).

He was discharged with the rank of Flight Lieutenant and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He returned to American Can Co. in Seattle where he met Margaret (Mickie) Rasmussen.

They were married for 53 years. During his 43 years in sales with American Can Co. they also lived in Vancouver, B.C., Denver, Colo., Bloomington, Minn. and Brookfield, Wis.

They retired to Green Valley in 1977 and were members of The Country Club of Green Valley where they developed many friendships.

He was very active physically throughout his life, playing rugby in his youth and enjoyed walking, golf and especially swimming. To many at the Country Club he was known as “The Mayor of the Pool.”

Phil was preceded in death by his wife Margaret. He is survived by his two sons and daughters-in-law, Chuck and Jo Shannon of Denver and Rich and Peggy Shannon of Fort Collins, Colo.; as well as three grandchildren, Brett Shannon, Selena Shannon and Nicholas Van De Veere; and five great-grandchildren.

A reception to honor Phil’s life will be held at Silver Springs, 500 W. Camino Encanto, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at 1 p.m.

Memorial gifts may be made to The Halifax Aircraft Association, 5444 Yonge Street, Suite 1905, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada M2N6J4.