Clarence "Bill" William Hannon

Clarence William “Bill” Hannon, 94, of Kent, Ohio, was born on August 29, 1932 in La Porte, Indiana to parents David Paul Hannon and Florence Anna Hannon (Warnke). He passed peacefully from this life on September 27, 2026, on a Sunday evening after a day of family visitors expressing love and concern and wishing him well.

Bill was an outstanding student and athlete throughout high school, always mindful also of his daily farming chores. He shared those chores with his twin brother Pat and his three older brothers, Jim, Dick and Dave.

He continued his education at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. There he continued his athletic excellence. During his four years as a cadet, he was selected as honorable mention All-American three times for basketball. He competed against the Harlem Globetrotters twice and, as Captain of the team, he hosted their visits. He finished his college career playing in the 1954 College East-West All-Star Game in Madison Square Garden in New York City. He was inducted into the West Point Sports Hall of Fame in 2015

He valued his affiliation with his alma mater and maintained close associations with numerous classmates throughout his life.

Bill took great pride in his troop assignments over a 26 year career as a Field Artillery Officer. His assignments included Korea and Viet Nam. Another assignment was in Cold War Europe of the late 1970s, as Army Commander in Greece. Following his Army career, Bill went to work for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in Washington, D.C., for 17 years.

In March of 1950 prior to entering West Point, Bill met the girl of his dreams and the light of his life, Etta Mae Malstaff. They were married on graduation day in 1954 in the Catholic Chapel at West Point. On June 8, 2026 they celebrated their 72nd anniversary. He is also survived by his children, Stephen (Alexandria) Hannon, Kimberly (John Smith) Hannon, Leonard (Wieska Galecka) Hannon, Charles (Uma Satyavolu Rau) Hannon; grandchildren, Luke Hannon, Damien Hannon, Jared Hannon, Mathew Hannon, Genevieve Hannon, Jennifer Ryan, Soma Hannon, Joshua Sexton, Alicia Galecka; great grandchildren, Josiah Hannon, and Rowyn Sexton, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his son Dennis Hannon.

He was extremely proud of them and actively engaged with them all.

He was a prayerful man of great faith. He led prayers of thanksgiving before every meal. His love of humanity was reflected in his generous giving of his time, talent and treasure to his family and numerous organizations in need. Further evidence of his character as well as determination stems from the several medical issues he faced in his later years including neuropathy below the knees and blindness. He never complained and always strived to be as independent as possible.

His marriage, his family, and his work were each important parts of his life. However, overlying each of these and tieing them together was his Catholic faith. Bill attended Church regularly and applied the tenets of his faith to whatever he was doing through his life. Bill would only ask in death that it be said “Well Done; Be thou at Peace”.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, October 5, 2026 at 11:00AM at St. Katharine Drexel Parish at St. Patrick Church, 313 N. Depeyster St. Kent, OH 44240. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in La Porte, Indiana. For those unable to attend the Mass, a Livestream will run on Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory Facebook Page.

Services in the care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.