Born January 9, 1924 in Columbia, PA he was the son of the late Wilbur C. and Janet (Shannon) Varian, Sr. He was the husband of Barbara (Zartman) Varian to whom he was married for 19 years.
Mr. Varian was a 1942 graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy. He was a Veteran of the United States Navy as a member of the Seabees and spent 1 ½ years in Guam. He attended Franklin & Marshall College and worked in the garment manufacturing industry for 45 years, most of which he was the owner and operator of W.C. Varian, Inc. He helped start Environmentally Safe Products, Inc. in New Oxford that made Low-E reflective insulation. In his free time he enjoyed cars, and was a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America and a charter member of the Hershey Region ACC, a three term President of the Gettysburg Region AACA, a member and past President of the Gettysburg Lions Club, member of the Horseless Carriage Club of America, the Buick Club of America, Plymouth Club of America, Cadillac Club of America, LaSalle Club of America, Swigart Museum in Huntington, the Antique Automobile Museum, and life member of the VFW. As well as, the NRA, Adams County Historical Society, Good Samaritan Lodge 336 F&AM, Gettysburg Commandery No 79 K.T., Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Harrisburg, Zembo Temple Shrine, and the Adams County Shrine.
Mr. Varian was the grandson of Major General Edward C. Shannon, Commander of the Armyâs 28th Infantry Division and served as Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania from 1930-1935. He was also the great great great grandson of Mr. Isaac L. Varian, the 63rd Mayor of New York City from 1839-1843.
In addition to his wife, Wilbur is survived by his daughter, Becky Varian, of Fairfax, VA, his step-son, Todd Zartman, of New Oxford, PA and a nephew, Edward Varian, Jr., sister-in-law Deb Jago and her husband Steve, and sister-in-law, Lori Greenholt and her husband Ed. Wilbur was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Lou Rodgers Varian, his son, Michael Varian, his brother, Edward Varian, Sr., and a nephew, William Varian.
Funeral services for Wilbur will be held 11:30 AM, Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Monahan Funeral Home, 125 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, PA. Interment with full military honors being presented by the Adams County Allied Veterans will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg. The family will receive friends from 10:30 AM until the time of the service Tuesday, at the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at monahanfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made to VNA Hospice of Hanover & Spring Grove, 440 Madison St., Hanover, PA 17331 or Visiting Angels, 104 Carlisle St. #1, Hanover, PA 17331.
This obituary was originally published here.