Obit of Shelton, A L (s435) - Comanche County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 30 Jul 2004 Return to Comanche County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/comanche/comanche.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Lawton Constitution 30 Apr 2002 A.L. Shelton - Tennessee [COMANCHE] 12 Mar 1912 - 29 Apr 2002 :Sunset Memorial Gardens Funeral for retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 A.L. Shelton, 90, Lawton, will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Northside Baptist Church with the Rev. Cliff Gravitt, pastor, officiating. Mr. Shelton died Monday, April 29, 2002, at his home. Burial with military honors will be at the Field of Honor at Sunset Memorial Gardens under direction of Becker Funeral Home. He was born March 12, 1912, near Bells, Tenn., to Thomas Arthur Shelton and May Williamson Shelton. He left school after the sixth grade to work the family farm and at the local saw mill driving mules, until he left to begin construction. He married Edna Ruth Jacocks Castello on Dec. 14, 1954, in Baton Rouge, La. He joined the Army in 1942, beginning his enlistment in the military police. In 1945 he transferred to engineers. He was in Germany, France and Japan during World War II, building bridges and airstrips for allied troops. He fought in the Battle of Bulge. He received several medals and awards including: Army of Occupation Medal, Japan; Korean Service Medal; Distinguished Unit Citation; Marksman Rifle Medal; Expert Carbine Medal, World War II Victory Medal; European African Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon with two Bronze Stars; American Theatre Ribbon; Good Conduct Medal and several letters of commendation and appreciation. He retired from the Army in 1962. He was involved in the design and construction of the Key Gate Cannon Monument. He helped develop and build the first automated firing range at Fort Sill. He owned and operated his own construction company until he retired in 1978, because of blindness from glaucoma. He also renovated the original building used by the Greiner School for the Handicapped to make it accessible for the students. He was a member of the Northside Baptist Church, Disabled American Veterans and the Retired Army Officers Association. The Sheltons were foster parents to more than 100 children. Survivors include his wife, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law: Arthur Leigh and Mary Baker Shelton, Lawton; a stepson and daughter-in-law: Rodney Allen and Debbie Clardy Castello, Lawton; a stepdaughter and son- in-law: Glenda Faye Castello and Steve Baker, Kiefer; five grandchildren and their spouses: Leigh Anne Shelton and Bo Outlaw, Shawnee; Stephanie Dawn Shelton, Lawton; Renae Stephens Cole, Jenks; Debbie Stephens and Richard Greenfeather, Sapulpa; and Melissa Hill and John Evraets, Tulsa; five great-grandchildren: Adam Outlaw, Shawnee; Nicholas Cole, Jenks; Ashley and Eric Greenfeather, both of Sapulpa; and Jacob Evraets, Tulsa. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, J.C. Shelton; and a sister, Vera Shelton Cobb. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lawton Area Inc., or to the Greiner School for the Handicapped. Sympathy cards may be sent to the family at www.beckerfuneral.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Comanche County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/comanche/comanche.html