It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Roy Richard Shannon, Sr., a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend to all. A master storyteller, an impeccable listener, and a teacher of all things practical, Roy had an outsized influence on everyone fortunate enough to share in his life.
Roy peacefully passed away at the age of 85 on December 23, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia, surrounded by his family. He was the first of five children born to Walter John Shannon, a farmer, and Jeanette Marsh in Waseca, Minnesota. At the age of 14, his family moved to Glendale, Arizona, where he attended Glendale High School. In addition to picking cotton in high school, Roy worked in an auto mechanic shop, where he developed a lifelong fondness for cars. He later worked at The Arizona Republic Newspaper, where he met his first wife, Sondra "Sandi" Sams.
Roy attended Arizona State University on an ROTC scholarship and graduated with a degree in accounting. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. Roy and Sandi were married on August 17, 1963, in Phoenix, Arizona. Roy began flight school in Lubbock, Texas, but due to vision limitations, he was reassigned as a missileer for the Atlas and Minuteman II systems. He served at bases in Wyoming and North Dakota, and completed his service from the U.S. Air Force as a Captain in 1968.
After his military service, Roy began a 30-year career with IBM, starting with programming punch cards in Phoenix and progressing to management roles in Cleveland, Endicott, Gaithersburg, and Tampa. He oversaw international business groups in the Far East during the 1980s and in Latin, Central, and South America in the 1990s.
Throughout his career, Roy remained deeply committed to his family. He and Sandi raised four children together, instilling in them his love of learning, his work ethic, and practical wisdom. After "retiring" for a year, he returned to his lifelong passion for cars, serving as CFO of a car dealership group in Savannah, Georgia, and later as CEO of a Dutch software company with U.S. operations in Boston and St. Paul, before fully retiring in 2002, shortly before Sandi's passing.
In 2005, Roy married his current wife, the former Barbara Richmond. After living in Northern Virginia for several years, they moved to Florida, eventually settling in The Villages. While a resident there, Roy was an active member of the Miata Club and the Nomad Motorcycle Club, where he enjoyed motorcycle rides on his 1972 Honda, often meeting the group for meals before heading out on adventures.
Roy's greatest joy was spending time with his family. He loved taking road trips, supporting his grandchildren in all their endeavors, and delighting in the company of his new great-grandchildren. He loved neighborhood potluck gatherings, sailing, camping, skiing, golfing, horseback riding, hiking, and driving his Pontiac Tempest. A lifelong tinkerer, he enjoyed working on engines, creating family home videos, and caring for his beloved dogs.
Roy is survived by his wife of 20 years, Barbara, and his immediate family: his daughter Kelli and her two sons, Matthew and Sean Thigpen; his daughter Jill and son-in-law Jim Melia with their four children and four grandchildren, Courtney and Joseph Keagy with Landon, Miles, and Chandler, Meghan and William Cabell with Sadie, Katie Melia and Jimmy Melia; his daughter Shea with her three boys, Wayne, Jr., Curtis, and Walter Adair; and his son Roy, Jr. and his daughter-in-law Sara with their five children, Connor, Sondra Grace, Claire, Liam, and Audrey. Barbara's children and grandchildren also survive him: Michelle and Mitch DeKoven with Zachary and Avery, and Scott and Jennifer Hanau with Reagan and Ryan. Additionally, Roy is survived by his siblings: his brother, Stuart, and his wife, Sharon; his brother, Jeff, and his wife, Mary; and his sister, Marsha—as well as several nieces and nephews, and many Air Force buddies, colleagues, neighbors, and friends. He was predeceased by his first wife, Sandi; his parents, Walter and Jeanette; and his younger brother, Marc.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in his name to the Evelyn D. Reinhart Guest House, where the family stayed during his care at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond. Contributions may be sent to 1100 Libbie Ave., Richmond, VA 23226, or made online at reinharthouse.org. A private family memorial gathering will be held at a later date.
Roy peacefully passed away at the age of 85 on December 23, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia, surrounded by his family. He was the first of five children born to Walter John Shannon, a farmer, and Jeanette Marsh in Waseca, Minnesota. At the age of 14, his family moved to Glendale, Arizona, where he attended Glendale High School. In addition to picking cotton in high school, Roy worked in an auto mechanic shop, where he developed a lifelong fondness for cars. He later worked at The Arizona Republic Newspaper, where he met his first wife, Sondra "Sandi" Sams.
Roy attended Arizona State University on an ROTC scholarship and graduated with a degree in accounting. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. Roy and Sandi were married on August 17, 1963, in Phoenix, Arizona. Roy began flight school in Lubbock, Texas, but due to vision limitations, he was reassigned as a missileer for the Atlas and Minuteman II systems. He served at bases in Wyoming and North Dakota, and completed his service from the U.S. Air Force as a Captain in 1968.
After his military service, Roy began a 30-year career with IBM, starting with programming punch cards in Phoenix and progressing to management roles in Cleveland, Endicott, Gaithersburg, and Tampa. He oversaw international business groups in the Far East during the 1980s and in Latin, Central, and South America in the 1990s.
Throughout his career, Roy remained deeply committed to his family. He and Sandi raised four children together, instilling in them his love of learning, his work ethic, and practical wisdom. After "retiring" for a year, he returned to his lifelong passion for cars, serving as CFO of a car dealership group in Savannah, Georgia, and later as CEO of a Dutch software company with U.S. operations in Boston and St. Paul, before fully retiring in 2002, shortly before Sandi's passing.
In 2005, Roy married his current wife, the former Barbara Richmond. After living in Northern Virginia for several years, they moved to Florida, eventually settling in The Villages. While a resident there, Roy was an active member of the Miata Club and the Nomad Motorcycle Club, where he enjoyed motorcycle rides on his 1972 Honda, often meeting the group for meals before heading out on adventures.
Roy's greatest joy was spending time with his family. He loved taking road trips, supporting his grandchildren in all their endeavors, and delighting in the company of his new great-grandchildren. He loved neighborhood potluck gatherings, sailing, camping, skiing, golfing, horseback riding, hiking, and driving his Pontiac Tempest. A lifelong tinkerer, he enjoyed working on engines, creating family home videos, and caring for his beloved dogs.
Roy is survived by his wife of 20 years, Barbara, and his immediate family: his daughter Kelli and her two sons, Matthew and Sean Thigpen; his daughter Jill and son-in-law Jim Melia with their four children and four grandchildren, Courtney and Joseph Keagy with Landon, Miles, and Chandler, Meghan and William Cabell with Sadie, Katie Melia and Jimmy Melia; his daughter Shea with her three boys, Wayne, Jr., Curtis, and Walter Adair; and his son Roy, Jr. and his daughter-in-law Sara with their five children, Connor, Sondra Grace, Claire, Liam, and Audrey. Barbara's children and grandchildren also survive him: Michelle and Mitch DeKoven with Zachary and Avery, and Scott and Jennifer Hanau with Reagan and Ryan. Additionally, Roy is survived by his siblings: his brother, Stuart, and his wife, Sharon; his brother, Jeff, and his wife, Mary; and his sister, Marsha—as well as several nieces and nephews, and many Air Force buddies, colleagues, neighbors, and friends. He was predeceased by his first wife, Sandi; his parents, Walter and Jeanette; and his younger brother, Marc.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in his name to the Evelyn D. Reinhart Guest House, where the family stayed during his care at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond. Contributions may be sent to 1100 Libbie Ave., Richmond, VA 23226, or made online at reinharthouse.org. A private family memorial gathering will be held at a later date.
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