Samuel "Sam" P. Shilling of 443 E. Butler St., Mercer, passed away at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17, 2007, in Countryside Convalescent Home, East Lackawannock Township. He was 76. Mr. Shilling was born April 22, 1931, in Kittanning, Pa., to Samuel C. and Bessie Snider Shilling. He resided in Mercer for the past 39 years. Mr. Shilling graduated from Kittanning High School, earned a bachelor of science degree and a master of science degree from Penn State University in speech pathology and audiology. He did post-graduate work at the University of Maryland. He began his career in 1954, working in New Castle Public Schools; then taught at Bloomsburg State University of Pennsylvania; State University of New York, College of Cortland; Clarion State University; and retired in 1988 from Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV, Grove City. He also worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Washington D.C. and at the former Greenville Hospital. Sam played the clarinet and saxophone for more than 60 years, playing with the Penn State Blue Band and more than 45 other bands and orchestras. He played with Kittanning Firemen's Band for more than 20 years. He was co-founder of Mercer Community Band and of the Mercer County Instrumental Music Hall of Fame. Sam loved to play his clarinet. Sam was the author of three books, a history of the community bands in Mercer County; another, a book on how to play the clarinet; yet another, about Mercer community. He was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Mercer. During his professional career, he was a member of the American Speech and Hearing Society and Pennsylvania Speech and Hearing Society. He also belonged to the International Clarinet Society and Local 27 of the American Federation of Musicians, New Castle. Survivors include: his wife of 54 years, Bonnie Cornman Shilling, at home; his son, Samuel J. Shilling and his wife Hiroko, Mercer; his daughter, Cynthia K. Butch and her husband Gary, Grove City; and his son, Randal C. Shilling and his wife Robyn, Castro Valley, Calif. He is survived by five grandchildren, Robert Butch; Crystal Embry and her husband Aaron; Gregory, Ryan and Jordan Shilling; and a sister, Carol Fritz and her husband Donald, New Freedom, Pa. He was preceded in death by a son, Douglas G. Shilling; his parents; a sister, Mary Margaret Dougan; a brother, William James Shilling; and a sister, Nancy C. Shilling, who died in infancy. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation Inc., 1501 N.W. 9th Ave., Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494.

SHILLING, Samuel "Sam" P., 76, of 443 E. Butler St., Mercer. Calling hours: 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday (5-20-07) in CUNNINGHAM FUNERAL HOME Inc., 144 S. Pitt St., Mercer. Service: Funeral service at 11 a.m. Monday (5-21-07) in the funeral home with the Rev. Dr. William P. Crooks, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Mercer, officiating. Interment: Mercer Citizens Cemetery.

From: The Sharon-Harold, Sharon, Pennsylvania, on Friday May 18, 2007

Married: Bonnie Belle Cornman, August 30, 1952, in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania