Carl Frank Shannon, 72, of Upper Black Eddy, Pa., passed away unexpectedly at home on Sunday, November 12, 2023.
He was born May 23, 1951 in Glen Ridge, N.J., the son of the Reverend Frank C. and Ruth P. Shannon who preceded him in death.
A graduate of Port Jervis High School (1969), Carl attended Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., majored in psychology and obtained his B.A. degree in 1973. It was here that he met his future wife, Christine Smith. Continuing his education at Penn State, he focused on the education of exceptional children and obtained his Master of Education in 1977. Always striving to learn, he also achieved certification for Special Education Supervision, Superintendent, and Educational Technology Integration.
Carl was a dedicated educator who spent his entire career at Upper Bucks County Technical School in Perkasie, Pa. (1975 – 2013), beginning as an Instructor in Occupational Transitional Education and retiring as Supervisor of Student Services.
Music was Carl’s passion, and throughout most of his life, beginning in high school, he substituted or served as church organist in various churches. A life-long learner, he pursued further education in church music through Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. An incredible musician, Carl began serving as organist at Tinicum UCC in 1985. While taking some breaks from his service there over the years, he was serving as their organist at the time of his passing. Also, for the past few years, Carl served as part time virtual organist for Upper Tinicum Lutheran Church, Upper Black Eddy, Pa., providing them with recorded organ music on Sundays when they did not have an in-person organist.
When the pandemic initially closed churches to in-person services, Carl experimented with the best way to share music via the Zoom platform used by his church for virtual services. He learned that recorded music provided the best result for the virtual and live congregation when services switched from virtual only to hybrid. Using his digital piano and software with the digitized sounds of organs from around the world, he was able to “play” and record church music on a variety of pipe organs.
Inspired by his grandfather’s love of antiques, Carl became fascinated with antique pump organs when he was in the seventh grade. He started saving money from his paper route and was able to purchase an organ the following year. Thus began his lifelong love of these beautiful instruments. Always curious about the way things worked, he learned to repair them for himself and others. Carl enjoyed being involved in a local organ club and the International Reed Organ Society. He is well known for playing for Easter sunrise services at Lake Nockamixon, using a small fold-up reed organ used in the past by missionaries and military chaplains.
Carl’s musical interests evolved to include stringed instruments, specifically hammered and mountain dulcimers. He took private lessons on the hammered dulcimer and began attending dulcimer festivals, facilitating his wife’s interest in the mountain dulcimer. They took workshops to enhance their skills, enjoyed great music and developed friendships with fellow musicians.
A man of many interests, Carl enjoyed sailing, wind surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and sculling at different points in his life. Via land, air and sea, Carl and his wife traveled to forty-eight states, including Hawaii and Alaska, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada, and Europe. Whether camping, ocean or river cruising, or staying in hotels and B & B’s, unexpected opportunities and unplanned itineraries always enhanced their adventures.
A member of Tinicum UCC, Carl served his church as a member of Consistory and as its Treasurer. Always willing to lend a helping hand for whatever was needed by church, family, or friends, Carl offered countless hours of moving assistance, medical advocacy, and always patient technical support.
Carl delighted in telling stories and was well known by friends and family for his ability to turn seemingly simple events into elaborate and often humorous stories. His warm, loving heart and infectious laugh will be dearly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Christine, of 47 years; sister, Ruth Ann Shannon; brother, Lyle; nephew, Ben Shannon (Dana), and great-nephew Magnus. He was recently predeceased by his sister-in-law, Terrie Shannon (Lyle).
A celebration of Carl’s life will be held at Tinicum UCC, 310 East Dark Hollow Road, Pipersville, Pa., on January 27, 2024, with visitation at 10:00 a.m., and services at 11:00 a.m. His ashes will be buried privately in Beemerville, N.J., in the family plot.
Memorial donations may be made to Tinicum United Church of Christ at PO Box 75, Pipersville, PA 18947, World Central Kitchen, 200 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20001 or on-line at www.wck.org, or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Robert W. Snyder Funeral Home, Riegelsville, Pa.
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