Robert Lee ‘Bob’ Shelton
Robert Lee “Bob” Shelton, 90, of Tahlequah, formerly of Quinton, passed away Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center, in Muskogee.
Bob was born on Jan. 6, 1929, in Kinta, the son of Riley Edmond and Bertha (Watkins) Shelton. He graduated from high school and was drafted in the Army serving in the Korean Conflict. Bob married Mary Ellen Wilkerson in 1950, in Reno, Nev. They were happily married for 68 years. Bob worked as a boilermaker/welder for the boilermaker union. He always enjoyed working on things. He was proud to build the house that he and Mary lived in. While his kids were growing up, Bob was an active leader in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and the Explorers. He liked to fish, make jewelry and square dance. The most important part of his life was his family. He was always a big part of his grandkids’ lives, going to all their sporting events with his big camcorder and hollering throughout the gym. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Quinton.
Survivors include his wife, Mary, of the home; his son, David Shelton and wife, Clydene, of Kinta; his daughter, Renee Diaz and husband, Ken, of Sonora, Calif.; his grandchildren, Pamela Thomas and husband, Jay, of Kinta, Dewayne Shelton of Kinta, Joshua Shelton and wife, Misty, of Kinta, Albert Franco and wife, Pam, of Rio Rancho, N.M., Joel Franco and wife, Janelle, of Sonora, Calif., DeAnna Franco of Eufaula, Kathleen Hill and husband, Heath, Kassidy Murphy and husband, Matt, of Sonora, Calif. and Ken Diaz, Jr., and wife, Destiny, of Vancouver, Wash.; great-grandchildren, Dalton Thomas of Kinta, Ashley Thomas of Kinta, Christian Shelton of Kinta, Alexia Franco of Sonora, California, Kayla Franco of Aurora, Colo., Sofia Franco of Rio Rancho, N.M., Dante Matteo Franco of Rio Rancho, N.M., Clayton Franco, Cole Franco, McKenna Franco, all of Sonora, Calif., Cody Thomas, Cory Thomas, Kaycee Thomas and Colt Thomas all of Eufaula, Loren Lanning of Talihina, Alexis and Allyssa Coughran of Kinta, Owen, Isaiah and Emmalyn Hill of Sonora, Calif., Carson and Bentley Murphy of Sonora, Calif. and Rochelle, Kylie and Cash Diaz of Vancouver, Wash.; his brothers, Joe Shelton and wife, Sherry, of Oklahoma City and Tom Shelton of Kinta; his sisters, Lillian Etter of Stigler and Sharon Pearce and husband, Don, of Coweta; a special sister-in-law, Colleen Ewan of Tahlequah, numerous nieces and nephews and his special dog, Shoji.
He is preceded in death by his parents and 18 brothers and sisters.
A funeral service was held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in the Kelley Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Bob Ikenberry and Mike Scifres officiating.
Pallbearers were Josh Shelton, Dewayne Shelton, Albert Franco, Joel Franco, Cody Thomas, Dalton Thomas and Christian Shelton. Honorary pallbearers were Cory Thomas, Colt Thomas, Clayton Franco and Cole Franco.
Burial followed at the Quinton City Cemetery under the direction of Hunn, Black & Merritt Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hbmfuneralhome.com.