Funeral service for Ben Baker Shelton, 74, will be Friday, January 27, 2017 at 3:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Harold Thompson and Bro. Bobby Ray Halbrooks officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Hartselle Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Thursday, January 26, 2017 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.
Mr. Shelton died on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at his residence. He was born Friday, May 1, 1942, in Lawrence County to Newton Scebren Shelton and Lettie Shankle Shelton.
Ben B. Shelton led a simple life it may have seemed looking in from the outside, but if you peered in closely, it was so rich with love, experiences, and many of the things that are most important in life. From a large family, Ben was the baby of nine boys and also had four half-sisters and one half-brother. He and his wife, Mattie, built a good life together in their 54 years of marriage raising three girls. Ben was a great father who could do anything and taught his children that they could do anything, as long as they put their mind to it. He was a coach of sports through the years and a coach in life. He impacted so many people in small ways along life’s journey. Ben was kind, gentle, compassionate and a great example for his family in so many things: a man of God, strong morals and character and demonstrated love in all things.
Ben worked very hard to provide for his family. He was a Methodist minister where he had his own churches years ago and still served when called. He was a long-time member of Forrest Chapel United Methodist Church where he also sang in the choir. He started working at a young age and worked many jobs – some of his favorites jobs that he often told stories about was when he was a Milk Man for Pet Milk and when he worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken; he also worked for General Electric for years and then retired from Delphi Automotive. He demonstrated strong work ethic and taught his girls about hard work, but most of all, he taught them about love.
After retirement, Ben and Mattie enjoyed trips and spending time with friends. And, he and his wife were prominent in caring for their granddaughters in their first few years of life on a daily basis – he was the best Poppy ever!
Survivors include :
his Wife, Mattie Shelton, Hartselle, AL
Two Daughters:
Amy Shelton, Hartselle, AL and
Kristina Alpaugh (Matt), Hoover, AL
One Brother:
Thomas Shelton, Decatur, AL
Two Grandchildren:
Stella Alpaugh and
Gretta Alpaugh
Ben was preceded by his parents, many siblings and his oldest daughter, Donnita Shelton James.
If you so choose, in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent for Glioblastoma Brain Cancer research:
1) braintumor.org
2) choose “give a gift”
3) Direct my gift to: “Defeat GBM Research Collaborative”
Peck Funeral Home
