Avon Guy Shannon, Jr., known as Guy, passed away on 12 August 2022, at the age of 89.

He was born on May 12, 1933, to Avon Guy Shannon Sr. and his wife Edith Mary Patterson in Los Angeles, where his father was earning a master’s degree in Education at the University of Southern California. The family returned to Arkansas in 1934 and lived in a succession of towns including Stamps, El Dorado, Clarksville, and Carlisle, where both parents worked as teachers and school administrators. Guy excelled academically, skipping a grade, and serving as high school valedictorian. He went to Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, where he met the love of his life, Sylvia Coleman. Upon graduation, Guy earned a prestigious Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, with which he completed a master’s degree in American History at Harvard. He then moved to New York City, began working for Metropolitan Life, and married Sylvia in 1956. After being drafted, he served in the US Army and was posted to El Paso, then to Germany, where he and Sylvia spent a memorable year living in Heidelberg. In 1967, after ten years in New York City, they moved to the Washington area with their two small daughters, living for 26 years in Reston before moving to Centreville in 1994.

Guy worked as an actuary for The Wyatt Company on K Street, where he was known for his wit and warmth as well as his keen intellect. He rose to become a vice-president and member of the board until his retirement in 1988. After retirement, he was called back by Wyatt to manage the company’s Seattle and Portland offices, giving him and Sylvia a year of exploration in the Pacific Northwest.

Guy and Sylvia were aficionados of classical music, opera, ballet, musicals, and theater, and attended regular events at Kennedy Centre as well as Wolf Trap, Arena Stage, Folger Shakespeare Theatre, and other Washington-area venues for the performing arts. An avid reader with a vast range of knowledge on countless topics, Guy was ready to respond to any situation with a thoughtful comment, wry limerick, or delightful pun. He loved gardens, camping and the outdoors, and was proud to have been an Eagle Scout. He also enjoyed travel, making many trips for business and leisure, and was a wonderful cook. Guy will be remembered by friends and family for his kindness and generosity, his sense of humor, and his sweet smile.

Guy is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Sylvia Coleman Shannon, daughters Leslie Shannon and Laura Shannon, sons-in-law Ismo Karali and Kostantis Kourmadias, and grandsons Otso and Ahti Karali.

The family will receive friends on Friday, August 19th, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 pm at Baker-Post Funeral Home, 10001 Nokesville Road, Manassas, VA 20110. A funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm.

Interment will take place in the Manassas City Cemetery.

Please sign the guestbook at www.bakerpostfh.com.

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