Elaine Train

Evelyn Elaine Shannon Train, 96, passed away August 26th, 2018 at her son Chuck’s home in Largo, Florida.  Elaine was born March 10, 1922 on a farm near Nichols, Iowa. Her parents were Amanda and Harry Shannon, older sister Virginia. The Shannon family moved to Sioux City, Iowa then Waterloo where Harry sold sheet metal material during the 1930s.

Elaine graduated from West High School in 1940 and Iowa State Teachers College in 1943. She received her teaching certificate and taught home economics and science in Fonda, Iowa and at the end of the school year, Elaine married her hometown sweetheart, Gene Train on June 4, 1944. She moved to Birmingham, Alabama where Gene was working for Bechtel, McCone & Parsons as a flight mechanic.  Poor eyesight and the critical training program/job at the Bechtel Modification Center (he had graduated from Spartan College of Areonautical Engineering in 1943) kept him from serving in the armed forces, but he was able to work as part of a crew updating B24/25 bombers with engineering changes.

The newly weds lived in Birmingham until wars end, and then moved to Belle Glade, Florida where Elaine’s family owned and operated 1000 acre vegetable farms, canning, and packing operations.  Gene farmed 350 acres of green beans for the family business and the next season was promoted to supervisor in the packing house.  On March 23, 1946, their first son, Charles Eugene was born in Pahokee, Florida on Lake Okeechobee.

Gene and Elaine decided to move back to Waterloo in the fall of 1946, Gene working for Iowa Public Service, then later partnering with father-in-law Harry Shannon at his ceramic tile store, Duratile. On April 16, 1950, their second son Robert Shannon was added to the family. During the early 1950s, Elaine enjoyed caring for Chuck and Bob, but they especially enjoyed their summer camping trips to the Black Hills, Yellow Stone, Yosemite, Mesa Verde, and to Disneyland the year it opened in 1955.

In the spring of 1957, their love of camping led them to Woodland Park, Colorado where they purchased 10 acres of cow pasture (later purchasing another 10 acres) and a 28 ft. mobile home.  They decided to open the first privately owned campground in Colorado building picnic tables, toilet facilities (outhouses), drilled a well to supply water, an underground reservoir, and a shower house with hot showers. They opened July 1st charging $1 per car per night including firewood. They averaged 50 cars per night which then grew to 150 by end of the Season in September. Gene began building a house with a wonderful view of Pikes Peak and Elaine went back to teaching home economics and science at Woodland Park High school that year, continuing to teach until 1961 when the campground was sold and they returned to Cedar Falls, Iowa, Gene assumng ownership of Duratile of Waterloo when father-in-law Harry Shannon retired.

Elaine enrolled in graduate school at State College of Iowa in Cedar Falls and Chuck and Bob attended the SCI Laboratory School.  Elaine graduated with a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling and was hired by Cedar Falls High School in 1963 as a guidance counselor.  Chuck graduated in 1964 from SCI High School and after two semesters at SCI, he joined the Navy where he was a P-3 sub patrol radioman stationed in Brunswick, ME.  Bob graduated in 1968 from Cedar Falls High and attended Wartburge College in Waverly, Iowa.  Chuck returned from the Navy marrying Julie Liscom in 1968 and attended the University of Northern Iowa. Bob married Sandy Train in November 1971.  Both sons graduated in 1972 with degrees in Business Administration.

After eight wonderful years at Cedar Falls High School as a guidance counselor, Elaine and Gene sold their house and Duratile and moved to Key West, Florida working in a 350 site campground.  After that winter season, they moved their 29 ft travel trailer to St. Petersburg, eventually purchasing B&B Printing company operating it for 30 years.

Elaine’s cousin, Larry Tipton, introduced Gene and Elaine to Largo’s Harvest Temple church and his prayer group that led them to a spirtual awakening of the Holy Spirit and a thirst for Jesus.  They attended church at Harvest Temple where Gene served as an elder for fifteen years.  Elaine taught at the Chistian School for eight years, and later joined Gene working at B&B Printing until they sold the business at age 83.

Gene passed in December, 2011 after suffering from dementia and Alzheimers during which time Elaine faithfully cared for him as she always did during sixty-seven years of marriage. Elaine continued to live independently in their condo in Clearwater enjoying the company of her best friend Harry Huggard, attending church at Harry’s Methodist church in Pinellas Park, and eating out at the Busy Bee restaurant. When she turned 93 she began to suffer veterbrae factures due to ostioporsis and had to be cared for by her son Chuck, daughter-in-law Julie, and grandson Joel in Chuck’s home as she lost her mobility.

Chuck and Julie faithfully provided wonderful care for Elaine and enlisted Hospice to assist the last four months of her life as she gradually slipped away.  She is survived by sons Chuck (Julie) of Largo, Bob (Sandy) of Nicholasville, KY; six grand children: Matthew, Joel, Benjamin, Samuel, Shannon, and Sara; four great grand children: Zoe, Sebastian, Joshua, and Leia.

Memorial service is scheduled for 10:00 on September 29th, 2018 at Gulf Coast Church of Largo in the main chapel, 13301 Walsingham Rd. Largo, Florida 33774 with Pastor Randy Morris officiating. Light lunch will follow in the church gymnasium.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Suncoast Hospice at www.EmpathHealth.org