Kenneth Shelton, 93, longtime Ojai resident, passed away on January 12, 2018. He had been facing the difficulty of dementia during the final years of his life. He was at home where he had lived, and raised his family, for 63 years.
Kenneth was born on January 1, 1925 to Ollie and Arra Shelton in Arkansas. He was the oldest of their seven children. Kenneth was married to Louise Shelton for 64 years when he lost her to cancer in 2011. Together they had four children, one of whom, Perry, preceded him in death.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army at the age of 17 during WWII. Kenneth participated in some of the major events of the war including landing in the final wave of Omaha Beach and fighting in The Battle of the Bulge.
He was an electrician who worked in a variety of capacities until his retirement in 1980. Kenneth enjoyed family gatherings and talking about shared memories. He loved traveling and music. One of his favorite annual activities was taking trips to Death Valley and attending a small gathering of musicians who played some of his favorite music. Kenneth especially loved it when his family joined him there. He was very interested in genealogy and spent years tracing his family lineage and sharing that information.
Kenneth is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Ken Jr. and D. Q. Shelton of Harbor, Oregon; daughter, Carole Lynn of Ojai, CA; son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Brandi Shelton of Auberry, CA; his sisters, Doris Keely of Norman, OK, Nadine Thurston of Purcell, OK and Cherry Stark of Anaheim, CA; his brother, Gordon Shelton of Quincy, CA; and 17 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. His family will miss him greatly.
Viewing will take place at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, in Ventura, on Saturday, January 20, 2018, from 10:00 am until 11:00 am. The service will begin at 11:00 am; a graveside service with military honors will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Road, Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com.
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