SHANNON, John Johnson, 96, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, died Saturday, September 22, 2007, in Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling. He was born August 17, 1911 in St. Clairsville, son of the late John W. and Sarah A. Johnson Shannon.

He spent most of his life in the field of public education. He was graduated from St. Clairsville Schools; and served as Principal of the St. Clairsville Elementary and High Schools. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Muskingum College and a masters degree in school administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

John served three years in World War II as a Naval Officer. He was in the Pacific Theatre at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He witnessed the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945 and took the occupation forces to Japan.

He was Belmont County Superintendent of Schools for a number of years and introduced vocational and technical education into area schools. He served as the first Superintendent of the Belmont County J.V.S.; and the founding President of the Belmont Technical College.
John served five years in Columbus as the Executive Director of the Council for Vocational Education for the state of Ohio. He played an integral role in bringing Ohio University regional campus to Belmont County; and served on the Coordinating Council at Ohio University Belmont for many years.

John was a life long member of Calvary Presbyterian Church in St. Clairsville. He served on the Board of Presbyterian Homes at Camp Hill, Pa.; and helped with the development of Kennedy Park Retirement Center in St. Clairsville. He was a member of the St. Clairsville Rotary Club; and Belmont Lodge No. 16 F. & A.M. at St. Clairsville. He served on the St. Clairsville Public Library Board. John was a member of the Board of the Belmont Savings Bank in St. Clairsville.

John was the recipient of several awards including the Liberty Bell Award from the Belmont County Bar Association; the Outstanding Alumni Award from the St. Clairsville Alumni Association; the Ohio University Meritorious Award; Kiwanis Award for Service to the Community.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Shriver Shannon; his second wife, Marcelyn Miller Shannon; his son, John Laird Shannon; two brothers, William Allan (Nellie) Shannon and Albert T. (Lucille) Shannon; and a sister, Mary Jeanette (Glenn) Watson.

Surviving are his brother, Wilson B. (Terry) Shannon of Marietta, Georgia; a grandson, Jay Laird (Connie) Shannon of New Orleans; two great grandsons, Collin Laird Shannon and John Colby Shannon; and a great granddaughter, Colette Elizabeth, all of New Orleans; and by a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family and friends will be received on Monday from 5-8 p.m. at the Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville, Ohio.
Visitation will again be held on Tuesday at Calvary Presbyterian Church in St. Clairsville from 1 p.m. until time of service at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Laurie Armstrong officiating. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery in St. Clairsville.

Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Presbyterian Church or the John J. Shannon Scholarship at Belmont Technical College.