Earl Depriest Shelton

Mr. Earl Depriest Shelton, 87, of Winston-Salem died Saturday, January 24, 2015, at Salemtowne Retirement Community following a short battle with cancer, with his wife, children and daughter-in-law by his side. A son of the late Thomas Elmer and Beulah Sisk Shelton, Earl spent his entire childhood in the Lawsonville community in Stokes County. After high school, Earl moved to Winston-Salem to work for Western Electric, retiring from Lucent Technologies after 42 years of service. He was an avid golfer and for many years coordinated volunteer drivers for such tournaments as the Crosby and the Vantage and RJR Championships. A longtime supporter of Wake Forest athletics, he was honored as Coaches Circle Captain of the Year in 1994. He possessed an extraordinary recall of Shelton and Sisk family history, and for many years headed up the annual Tilton & Lillian Shelton family reunion. Earl was a devoted member of Trinity Moravian Church, serving as an elder, trustee, usher, diener and supporter of Trinity's many outreach programs. He and wife Mary for many years volunteered for Meals-On-Wheels and were volunteers at Salemtowne for six years before becoming full time residents.
Earl served in leadership roles for Boy Scout Troop 716 for over 55 years, most recently as committee chair. He was a vigil member of the Order of the Arrow and recently received scouting's Silver Beaver award. A highlight of this service was when the troop was recognized on the cover of Scouting Magazine for recycling one million pounds of glass.
Earl is predeceased by a sister Wylodene Wilson and husband Wilbert, and is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Mary Ruth Painter Shelton of Salemtowne, two children, Steve Shelton (Olivia) of Danbury and Sandra Weavil (Eddie) of Claudville, VA, four beloved grandchildren, Benjamin Shelton (Jane), Matthew Shelton (Emily), Joshua Shelton and Taylor Weavil, one great-grandchild, Palmer Ann Shelton (Ben), a brother, Orell Shelton (Nancy), a sister Eloise Howell (Glenn), numerous nephews and nieces, and a special friend of the family, Elsie Gray.
The family would like to thank the staff of Salemtowne Healthcare for the loving care extended to Earl, and the love and support of his family members and many friends during his illness.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 27th from 5 to 7 pm at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel, 3315 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem NC. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, January 28th at 2:00 pm at Trinity Moravian Church, 220 E. Sprague St., Winston-Salem with pastors John Jackman, Bill McElveen, and Linda Browne officiating. Interment will follow in Salem Moravian Graveyard. Memorial contributions may be made to the following: Trinity Moravian Church; Boy Scout Troop 716; Sunnyside Ministries; or Anthony's Plot; all c/o Trinity Moravian Church, 220 E. Sprague St., Winston-Salem, NC 27127.

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