She was born to Wilbur and Thelma Curling on November 29, 1938. Growing up in South Norfolk, Gaitha graduated from Oscar Frommel Smith High School in 1956.
She married Melvin Paul Shannon on January 25, 1972 . They spent just over 50 years of married life together living in both Virginia and Florida. Gaitha returned to Virginia to be near her family after Mel’s passing on March 15, 2022.
She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Tracy and Ray Grandon; her nephews, Graham Clark (Elizabeth) and Zachary Clark (Emily), and 5 grand-nieces. Gatha was predeceased by Mel and her parents as well as her sister, Alison Hart.
Gaitha and Mel will be inurned at the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans cemetery in Suffolk, Virginia on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 1 p.m.
