William Vincent “Bill” Shannon
William Vincent “Bill” Shannon,75 of Osceola Mills, PA died from an embattled illness on Friday, February 21, 2025 at his home.Born in Philipsburg, PA, on November 27, 1949, he was the son of the late Richard W. Shannon & Gwendoline (Langton) Shannon. Following graduation from Philipsburg-Osceola Mills Area High School in 1967, he was called upon to serve his country at a time of great calamity in the United States Army, which he did with honor and dedication. After military service, Bill returned to Philipsburg where he lived the rest of his life amongst family and friends in a community he loved so much. Upon his return, he graduated from the Penn State Turf School and started to work as an Assistant Greenskeeper at Toftrees. Later he worked for Stott Coal Company where his extreme attention to detail landed him a position in the laboratory examining coal samples coming in from the field. Later in life he decided to change his career path by attending and graduating from Penn State University, as an MLT. The remainder of his professional life was spent working in the laboratory at Tyrone Hospital.
Bill is survived by his loving wife Cheryl (Conklin) Shannon of Osceola Mills,(of 51 years) PA, grandchildren, Savannah Shannon and Sierra Shannon of Clearfield PA, brother Bruce Shannon and wife Patricia (Puchko) of Johnstown, PA, brother in laws Harry Conklin, Frank Conklin and Sister in law Mary Jane Conklin of Osceola Mills, nieces Frances Shannon of Concord, CA and Jennifer Feeser of Dallas, TX. He was preceded in death by Two sons William E. Shannon, Matthew W. Shannon, By his parents, Richard & Gwendoline Shannon and his twin sister Maureen Shannon and by his father and mother in law Harry and Julia Conklin.
Bill was a faithful parishioner at St Thomas of Canterbury Anglican Catholic Church where he served as both Treasurer and Sexton. He was also a member of the VFW Post 3450 where he enjoyed his weekly visit with friends and fellow veterans over a cold beer. One of Bill’s most enjoyable and memorable activities was hunting rabbits with his father and brother and sitting down once a year to a rabbit feast prepared by his beloved mother. Every deer season he attended Buzzards Roost Hunting Camp where the order of the day was hunt, tell stories about the one that got away, and play darts in the evening.
In 2005 Bill enjoyed the occasion to visit his mother’s homestead in Leicester, England and to reconnect with close family members in Manchester. The enchanting life of the quiet English countryside combined with a nightly draft of ale and a portion of fish pie led him to once say he could live the rest of his life there.
Funeral Service will be held Saturday March 1, 2025, at 11am at the Heath Funeral Home & Cremation Services LLC, Osceola Mills, PA with Father Gary Chique officiating. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 6 to 8 pm and on Saturday from 10 am to funeral time at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Osceola Mills, PA
Military Honors will be accorded by the Osceola Mills Honor Guard at the cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the donors choice.
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