Mr. Edward Joyce Shelton

October 29, 1933 – July 30, 2014

Edward Joyce Shelton, 80, of Gurley, Alabama passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Shelton, a veteran of the United States Air Force, served his country proudly from 1954 – 1958. He was discharged honorably, in 1958, as a Staff Sergeant. In addition to his military service, Mr. Shelton retired from NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center where he worked at the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator. Mr. Shelton loved nature; he was an avid gardener, liked bird-watching, enjoyed star-gazing and writing short stories about his life. Edward stayed physically fit and was also a volunteer coach with youth football and softball programs. Mr. Shelton was preceded in death by his wife of close to 60 years, Sally Nadean Shelton and one daughter, Linda C. Shelton. He is survived by two sons, Ron (Maxie) Shelton and Jerry (Sheryl) Shelton; one daughter, Brenda (Keith) McElroy; and several grandchildren. The family will be present to receive friends at Valhalla Funeral Home on Saturday, August 2, 2014, from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. The funeral service, with Dr. Tom Lovell officiating, will commence at 2:00 p.m. Interment will immediately follow in Valhalla Memory Gardens.