Shelton G. Knapp

“A blessed event for Randall and Mabel Knapp happened on November 4, 1928. I came into the world on the kitchen table, delivered by my dad and the lady next door.” Thus began a most unique and humorous life story as told by Shelton in his autobiography “My Life.” Shelton spent most of his formative years in Ransomville, New York, living on a farm with his brother LaVerne and sister Carole. He spent 18 years wreaking havoc in upper New York State before Uncle Sam offered him a means by which to corral his creative energy. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1950. Before receiving his commission on the maiden voyage of the USS Terrell County, Shelton married Elaine Bowen and over the next nine years, they had three children, Shirley, Eddie and Ellen, each of whom survives.

A series of circumstances led to Shelton establishing residence in Colorado in July of 1958. Over the next six years he worked at a foundry in Denver and then at Martin Marietta on the Titan missile program. One thing led to another and subsequent events in his life led Shelton to two decisions that had a profound impact on multiple people over the next 45 years—he discovered a gift for sales and started that career, and he married Jean Davis Boyles, assuming responsibility for her and her three sons, Wayne, John (deceased) and Roger. Only God knew what was in store for all of them and the creative energy that he employed during his youth was to be tested three-fold by three teenage boys in a manner that each marveled at over the years to come.

In 1973 Shelton, Jean and John started United Restaurant Supply, a company that is still serving the foodservice industry in Colorado. Roger joined the company in 1982 and, with John, purchased URS from Shelton and Jean in 1997. Shelton and Jean remained employed by URS over the next five years and each “retired” in 2002. In “My Life,” Shelton insisted that John and Roger were the best employers he ever had. The truth was that John and Roger considered working with Shelton and Jean a privilege that few ever have, and the impact that Shelton had on their lives (and Wayne’s life, too) went beyond anything any of them expected in 1965 when he became “Dad.”

In his typical upbeat fashion, Shelton “attacked” the three years of loneliness that have accompanied his life since Jean died in 2008. He was enthusiastic about all his kids, loved talking to his grandkids, remained heavily involved in his church and was always giving of his time and energies to those around him. Whether it was fixing a meal, baking a pie, encouraging employees at URS or serving as a grief counselor, he always had an ear for those who needed to talk and time for those who needed it.

In addition to his sister and brother and five children, Shelton is survived by 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed. The memories are rich and the legacy will live on for all those who were touched by him.

A Memorial Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 219 East Bijou, Colorado Springs, CO, on Friday, August 19, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. A reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dale House Project (a home for delinquent, neglected and abused teenagers), 7 West Dale Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.