Wilbert Clarence Shannon

Wilbert "Shannon" Clarence Shannon, AKA Jack W, was born on January 6, 1923, in Minden, West Virginia to Cecil and Pearl Shannon, and reared in an extended family household of his maternal grandparents. At age 20 during the heat of World War II, he was drafted into the US Army and sent to the European Front where he witnessed unimaginable deaths and the destruction of the war. For the remainder of his life, Shannon carried those traumatic memories that would deeply impact how he viewed himself and the world around him.

After returning from the war and being honorably discharged from the Army in 1945, Shannon settled in DC obtaining his Bachelor's degree from Howard University and working in various places like DC Public Welfare, the US Postal Service, and the Veteran's Administration. In 1956, he returned to study at Catholic University and earned a MSW degree in Clinical Social Work in 1958. For most of the next 25 years, he worked as an administrator of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in DC Government until his retirement in May 1983.

On April 7, 1981, Shannon entered a self-help program after realizing that he had been harboring feelings of "self-hate". He dedicated his retirement years to volunteering in every phase of the program and sponsoring many new members in their journey to recovery. Throughout those years, Shannon developed a strong belief in human strength, resiliency, and the will to love oneself in times of pain and despair.

Shannon was married in 1951, had a son (Mark, deceased 2012) and a daughter (Lisa), and divorced in 1985. He was remarried in 2004 and led a quiet life with a small social circle. Shannon enjoyed various sports throughout his adult life, especially golf. He had been a member of the two golf courses in Columbia from their inception until 2021.

He is survived by his daughter Lisa, daughter-in-law Diane, wife Meang, sister-in-law KD, and three beloved dogs.

The family of Shannon wish to express their heartfelt gratitude to all his friends and healthcare providers for their steadfast love and care throughout the times of his declining health. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome charitable donations to Gilchrist (GilchristCares.org) at 11311 McCormick Rd, Suite 350, Hunt Valley, MD 21031.

A visitation for Wilbert will be held Wednesday, June 26, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Witzke Funeral Homes Inc., 5555 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD 21045. A funeral service will occur Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Witzke Funeral Homes Inc..