Shannon Leslie Fankhouser, age 74, of Teays Valley, WV passed away on April 7, 2024.

He was born in South Charleston, WV on May 2, 1949.  Shannon resided in Dunbar, WV during most of his school years where he graduated from Dunbar High School and attended the local college.  He served four years (1970-1974) in the Air Force and rose to SSGT E-5.  During those four years, he saw combat in Vietnam as part of a helicopter rescue crew whose missions where to rescue downed pilots.  After discharge from the Air Force, he was hired by DuPont where he had a 37-year career as a Lab Technician before retirement.

Shannon enjoyed sports, especially college football and basketball.  He was a long time fan of Marshall University sports teams.  He had a lifetime love of reading, and his Bible was the last reading of each evening.  His passion of learning regarding animals and all creatures was insatiable from an early age, and he was very knowledgeable on the subject.

He was preceded in death by Betty, his wife of 35 years, and by his father and mother, Herman L. and Cristina Baker Fankhouser.

Shannon is survived by his four step-children, Timothy Dawson (Janet), Kimberly Powell (Wayne), Kevin Moore (Janet), and Kelly Boer (Dan); sister, Patricia Genzel; and his niece, Nicki Maggiore (Paul).

The family is extremely grateful for the wonderful care and compassion from the employees at Huntington Rehab in Huntington, WV which has been his place of residence over the last three years.  The nurses, technicians, and all who cared for him were knowledgeable, compassionate, caring and a source of strength for Shannon and his family.

A funeral service will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 19, 2024 at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar followed by burial in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans with Military Honors.

Family will receive visitors starting at 10:00 a.m. at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.

www.kellerfuneralhome.net