Sharon Carnahan, wife of Zonar's Don Carnahan, passes away
Sharon provided invaluable assistance to Don in his years in the pupil transportation industry, from editing documents to preparing proposals.
RENTON, Wash. — Sharon Joy Carnahan, 70, died on July 26 after a struggle with brain cancer.
Carnahan was married for more than 50 years to Don Carnahan, vice president of business development at Zonar Systems and a former state pupil transportation director.
As noted in her obituary, Sharon and Don did everything from camping, hunting, snowmobiling and riding motorcycles to extensive traveling around the U.S., Scotland and Yugoslavia together.
Sharon provided invaluable assistance to Don in his years in the pupil transportation industry, from editing documents to preparing proposals.
She worked at Boeing for 35 years before retiring in 1995. Later she worked part time for Zonar Systems before retiring again in 2008.
She is survived by her husband, her three daughters, two sisters, and eight grandchildren. There will be a viewing on Aug. 6 from noon until 6 p.m.
Sharon's funeral will be held Aug. 7 at noon. Both will be at Greenwood Memorial, 350 Monroe Ave, NE, Renton, Wash. A graveside service will immediately follow. A celebration of Sharon's life will be held at 20245 SE 192nd St. in Renton, following interment.
Condolences in the online guestbook have been left by many members of the school bus industry, including the staff and board of directors of the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute; Peter Manella, executive director, New York Association for Pupil Transportation; Peter Lawrence, director of transportation, Fairport (N.Y.) Central School District; Launi Schmutz, director of transportation, Washington County (Utah) School District; and Alex Robinson, school transportation industry veteran.
More Management

From Intent to Impact: What I Learned About Leadership from TAPT
A Texas transportation supervisor shares lessons on self-awareness, accountability, managing stress and building trust — and why investing in leadership development matters at every stage of your career.
Read More →
NAPT Names 2026 Award Recipients
Who earned national recognition for their work in student transportation? This year, NAPT named five recipients of its 2026 awards for service, safety, and leadership.
Read More →
2026 State of Student Transportation Report
Driver shortages. Rising costs. Growing safety expectations. More data, but not enough time to act on it. The 2026 State of Student Transportation Report reveals what transportation leaders say is putting the most pressure on their operations—and where they’re investing next. See how your priorities compare.
Read More →
How to De-Escalate an Angry Person: 5 Steps for Handling Workplace Conflict
What makes emotions run high, and how should you handle an angry colleague or parent? Follow these steps for staying calm, listening, showing empathy, and resolving conflict.
Read More →
What Readiness Looks Like This School Year
Learn about the challenges shaping the 2026–2027 school year, from persistent driver shortages and budget pressure to technology and readiness gaps. See how school districts are responding and adapting in Zonar’s 2026 Back-to-School Readiness Report.
Read More →
Changing Lanes: Executive Moves at Summit School Services, Zum, STA, Cummins, Transit Technologies, Driventic, & Cadex
See who's been hired, promoted, and appointed to leadership positions at various school transportation industry suppliers and private contractors.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Industry Moves: Companies Expand Fleet Service & EV Infrastructure Footprints
The new facilities and regional hubs could mean faster access to shop equipment, charging support, and transportation technology for fleet operators.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →


