John Linker Shaver, Jr.

John Shaver, age 91, passed away Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Salisbury, NC.  A service to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church, Kannapolis, NC.  Visitation will be from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the church, preceding the service.  Graveside service to follow at Carolina Memorial Park.

Mr. Shaver was born on March 1, 1932, in Salisbury, the son of the late John L. Shaver, Sr. and Arlene Vernice Wise Shaver.  He was a member of the last graduating class of J. W. Cannon High School in Kannapolis, NC.  After graduation, John married his high school sweetheart, Betty Ann Sloop. 

John began his career as a theatre projection and sound engineer with jobs at the Gem and Main theatres in Kannapolis.  Later, he was recruited by Carolina Sound Service and began traveling North and South Carolina servicing theaters.  In 1969, he started his own company, Shavers Sound Service, to service the theaters.  After John’s retirement, his son Dennis, and later his grandson, Robert, took over the company.  This left time for John and Betty to travel.  They made numerous trips with Christian Tours, including two of their bucket list destinations, Hawaii and Alaska.

An active member in his church and community, John served as president of the church council, taught Sunday School, and served on various committees including the Tape Ministry, Lutheran Men in Mission, and the Bible Study group.  He was a member of Cannon Memorial Masonic Lodge #626 for over 50 years and served as the Master in 2008.  He also served on the Kannapolis Beautification Committee and the Kannapolis Centennial Celebration Committee.

Mr. Shaver is survived by Betty Shaver, his wife of 72 years; sister, Doris Clanton, and brother, Gene Shaver; children Debra Wood (Jim Cocke), Janet Hall (Dennis), Dennis Shaver (Chris), and Donnie Shaver (Janice); grandchildren Kelsey Wood, Bryan Wood, Leslie Schlesinger (Stephan), Taylor D’Avanzo (Antonio), Robert Shaver (Reese Moore), Reid Shaver (Allison), Paul Shaver, and Kevin Shaver (Victoria); and 15 great-grandchildren (with one more on the way).

The family would like to thank the staff at Novant Health Hospice Rowan and Trinity Oaks Health and Rehab for their loving care of Mr. Shaver.

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