FLOYD VERNON SHELTON
Dec. 10, 1933 - Jan. 22, 2021
Floyd Vernon Shelton, 87 of El Centro, CA, was called home to be with the Lord on Friday, January 22nd.
Vernon, as he preferred to be called, was born December 10, 1933 in Kiowa, OK as the fourth child of seven. One of the monumental moments in his life was being part of the 15% of Oklahomans who relocated as part of the Great Depression. His family settled in Arizona for a while before moving to the Imperial Valley in 1948.
He l ived and attended school in the Imperial Valley, b ut during the summer he lived in a tent in Keyes, CA w here t he entire family picked fruit for a canning factory. He met his future wife, J ean Ritter, w hile in Keyes during his middle school years, as his friend group were her cousins. Vernon married Jean on September 7, 1 952 in Tucson, AZ. He was drafted into the army in 1953 and attended basic training at Fort Ord, CA. After basic training, he was stationed at F ort Eustis, V A, and assigned as the Company’s Clerk where he t ook care of personnel records for 125 men and only had to a ttend bivouac two days a month (he never let us forget this). He was then promoted to P FC and eventually Corporal. He was discharged in October 1955. Before his service he never wanted to settle in the Imperial Valley but after experiencing the harsh winters in Virginia, he couldn’t wait to come back.
After moving back to the Imperial Valley, Vernon worked for the Imperial County Department o f Public Works in the Road D ivision, eventually becoming the General Road S uperintendent. He built roads, supervised, and served 36 dedicated years before retiring in 1991. He was so good at his job he was coerced out of retirement for a six month stint in 2007. Boy had technology changed.
Vernon and Jean adopted t wo b oys, Daniel and David in 1961 and 1963 (respectfully). Vernon was a man who held faith, family, and the value of hard work t o the highest degree. For 65+ years he attended Assembly of God Church in El Centro every Wednesday evening and twice on Sundays. As Jesus was a carpenter, Vernon built his own house for his wife and sons in 1976. He built many others for his siblings and children as they started their own families.
Vernon could do anything he set his mind to, as he most famously c onverted a refrigerator i nto a functioning oven to cook his family- favorite shredded beef. He enjoyed traveling each summer to escape the heat, he and Jean would take their trailer everywhere and were a ble to visit all 50 states. They e ven made sure to never miss church and attended one wherever t hey were t raveling. He c ould never finish a joke without laughing hysterically while telling it. He was driven, selfless, caring, humble, and most of all devoted his life to God. Those that had the chance to meet him will never forget him, as he was loved by many.
Vernon fought the honorable, faithful, and good fight that is called life. He truly will be missed by many.
Floyd Vernon Shelton was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Lela Shelton; b rothers, Lloyd, Bob and TL Shelton; sister, Bulah Goff (Shelton).
He is survived by his wife of 68 years; J ean Shelton, brothers; Donnie (Irene) Shelton and Ron (Ann) Shelton, sons; Daniel (Stacy) Shelton, David (Monica) Shelton, grandchildren; Madison, Sonora, Jackson, and Sierra Shelton; brother- in- law, John Ritter as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held February 7th at First Assembly of God outside in the courtyard at 4 p.m. and a graveside service w ill be February 8th at E vergreen Cemetery at 10 a.m.