Joseph "Jack" W. Shelton

Joseph William “Jack” Shelton departed for his heavenly home March 3, 2017. He was born to John & Clara Shelton on April 8, 1921 in Tecumseh, Oklahoma.  He was one of 6 children, he had 2 brothers and 3 sisters.He was preceded in death by his wife Janet, his son Richard, his brother Darrell, and 2 sisters, Doris Hunt and Dorothy Holmes.He is survived by a daughter, Nelda and husband Bill Jolly, along with 8 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 19 great-great-grandchildren.  A brother Mack, sister Juanita Banning, and many nieces and nephews.      Jack attended the Okay Community School and Macomb High School.  The majority of his adult life was spent in service to his country, first in the CCC’s, then in the US Army 3rd Tank Destroyer Group during WWII.  He served from July 1942 to December 1945 in Europe.  After his military service he went to work for Tinker Air Force Base until he retired in 1976.  After retiring he moved to Florida where he and Janet enjoyed their retirement together for several years before moving to Catonsville, Maryland in 2002 to help care for Janet’s mother.  Jack loved traveling but his life’s plan was always to return to his roots in Oklahoma. After losing his wife Janet in 2015 he moved back to Oklahoma in February 2016 to be closer to family.  He celebrated his 95th birthday on April 8, 2016 here with his family.   Jack, as he was known by most friends and family, loved fishing and hunting when he was younger and later a good game of golf or tennis.  But most of all he enjoyed attending church to hear a good sermon from a man of God.  He also loved music, mostly classic country and church hymns.  He was always an avid reader of the Bible and poetry and a great letter writer.  He was a hard-working man all his life.  Devoted to God, family and church. He was always trying to be productive, even after retirement.  He loved working in the yard and cooking.  He was known by his neighbors wherever he lived because he was an avid walker, walking 3 or 4 miles a day, and still at 94 was making a mile or two a day.  Also known for helping his neighbors, mowing a lawn, running an errand, cooking or taking down Christmas lights.  He was loved by all he met.  He always had a compliment and a smile for his caregivers.  Everyone has told us what an inspiration he was with him strong determination and positive attitude.  He had a great sense of humor, always a little punch line when you least expected it.  Even after his voice faded and his hearing failed, he spoke to everyone he met.  Special recognition goes to friends Vickie McCormick and Dave Hayman, who were special friends to Jack and Janet in Catonsville. He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.  This is one of his favorite writings found in his Bible by family:  A “Father” is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there, but always a guiding light, whose loved shows us the way. If he could be here he would say Thank You to everyone, friends and family, for loving, caring and helping him in so many ways to accomplish his final goal in life, to come back to Oklahoma and be with his family.  Special thanks to Bob Holmes, nephew who flew to Maryland to help when Janet passed and John Banning, nephew who helped move him back to Oklahoma and Tom Banning.