Thomas Robert "Tom" Shelton's Obituary
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas Robert "Tom" Shelton, who left this earth to be with his Savior on June 19, 2025.
Born on February 28, 1931, Thomas lived a full, productive, and independent life until his 94th year. His parents, Allen Clifton Shelton and Mary Pullen Shelton, brought him up in Calhoun County along with his brother, AC Shelton, and his sister, Mary Ann Shelton O'Brien. His father served as an Alabama state senator for many years, and his mother was well known as the Jacksonville town librarian.
Tom was a beloved father of ten children, eleven grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and was a friend to many. He began his years in Jacksonville, Alabama, attending Anniston High School later, where he played football and boxed, earning the title of Golden Gloves light heavyweight champion of Alabama. He attended Jacksonville State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was involved in student government, drama, and Sigma Nu fraternity. He majored in political science and economics and put those degrees into use throughout his life.
After college, Tom entered the life insurance business and later was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served on bases in the U.S. and overseas in Europe in infantry units, where his duties were as Platoon Leader, Battalion Assistant Plans and Operations Officer, and Company Executive Officer. He also served in the military police. After his active duty, he remained in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves for several years as a captain.
When he re-entered civilian life in 1955, he continued in the insurance business and later worked as a real estate developer. Some of his accomplishments include founding the Jacksonville Nursing Home, developing a residential area on Logan Martin Lake, and contracting to have Jackson Trace Apartments built in Jacksonville, Alabama.
Activities in Anniston, Alabama included being a member, director, and vice-president of Anniston Junior Chamber of Commerce; delegate and president of Holy Name Society; and a member of Anniston Chamber of Commerce. When he returned to Calhoun County from his work at Equitable Life Insurance in Atlanta, Georgia, he served in the Alabama State House of Representatives, passing many valuable bills for the welfare of our state.
Outside of his work, Tom loved to raise vegetables and chickens, and was always there for people who needed kindness. He had a large heart and a great memory for detail when telling stories of people and happenings over the decades.
Thomas is survived by his six sons, Robert, Matthew, Joseph, Clif, Thomas, and Andrew; and his four daughters, Mary Alice, Sally, Susan, and Mary. His grandchildren include Daniel and Tommy Walker, Katie Fortner, Taylor Shelton, Wes Thornton, Luke Pettit, Abigail Shelton Montoya, Grace Shelton, Ramsey Shelton, and Maddie and Timothy Shelton.
Services for Thomas include an 11:00 funeral mass on Wednesday, June 25, at St Charles Catholic Church in Jacksonville, Alabama, followed by a reception in Macey Hall at St Charles, and then an inurnment at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Anniston, Alabama at 3:00 p.m.
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