Virginia Browning Caylor Shannon

 Virginia Browning Caylor Shannon, widow of John M. Caylor, attorney and pro-tem judge, and Wilbur C. Shannon, business owner, has passed away on Sunday, March 15th, 2009 at age 94.
Mrs. Shannon was born in Indianapolis but grew up in Anderson, IN, where she graduated from Anderson H.S. at age 16. She attended Ball State University, then Ball State Teachers College.
Active in Republican politics since 1935, Mrs. Shannon (then Browning) helped organize the Anderson Young Republicans.
She moved back to Indianapolis in 1940 and was secretary to 3 Marion County treasurers; Louis Ranier, and Louis Fletcher, and Deputy Treasurer to Frank Huse.
In 1952, she was elected to the office of Reporter for the Supreme and Appellate Courts (an office held at one time by President Benjamin Harrison). She was reelected to 2 subsequent 4 year terms, leading the state Republican slate of officials in number of votes in 1960, second only to Richard Nixon. She was also the first and only woman to be elected to a state office for 3 consecutive terms.
Mrs. Shannon (Caylor) has held the following offices: Secretary of the Wash. Township (Marion County) Republican Club (6 years), President of the Indianapolis Women's Republican, delegate to the National Federation of Women's Republican Clubs in 1955. She was President of Soroptimist Club, an international service club for women, and was elected charter president of the Indiana Chapter of the Women's Auxiliary to the Rainbow Division Veterans.
Mrs. Shannon was listed in the first edition of "Who's Who of American Women" and was an honorary member of Poet's Corner, Inc.  She also served multiple times as state government chairman for many fund raising drives, including the American Red Cross, Community Chest, and Ind. Assn. for Mental Health.
Mrs. Shannon was one of the few women appointed as a "Sagamore of the Wabash", by Governor Ed Whitcomb and again by Governor Matthew Welsh.
Mrs. Shannon was a long time member of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, and served on the Board of Deaconesses.
She is survived by her children and grandchildren; Lynne Ashby Neel (Robert), Kathleen Caylor Halderman (Joe), both of Indianapolis, Stephen Caylor (Barbara) of Merritt Island, FL., Jack Caylor (stepson) Hendersonville, NC, Ronetta Carroll (stepdaughter), Joetta Kirkman (stepdaughter) and Brian Walker (grandson) of Chicago, IL., and stepgrandchildren, Steven, Jordan and Paige Carroll and Katie and Abby Kirkman.  We will deeply miss our loving mother, but know she is with our Lord Jesus.
Funeral arrangements are being conducted by Randall & Roberts Funeral Home, 1150 Logan St., Noblesville, IN. Ph: (317) 773-2584. Services are scheduled with visitation beginning at 1 PM. on Thursday, March 19th, 2009, and service following at 2 PM. at the funeral home. The Reverend John Gable, of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church will conduct the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to one of Mrs. Shannon's favorite charities, World Challenge, in her memory: World Challenge, Inc., PO Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771.