Cecil Melvin Shelton

1916 - 2010

Cecil "Cec" Melvin Shelton entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 in Hanford, California at the age of 94. He was born near Manchester, Coffee County, Tennessee on April 11, 1916, the first son of Odia Bell Shelton and Mary Catherine Foster. He moved with his family to Hanford in 1922 and graduated from Hanford High School with the class of 1934. He married his wife of over 70 years, Louise McClintock, on December 4, 1937, and they raised their two children, Tom Shelton and Kathleen Shelton Cody of Lodi, CA. Cecil retired as Assistant Fire Chief in 1974 after 33 years with the Hanford City Fire Department. Cecil's life began with the first cars, radios and airplanes. He saw four major wars, the Great Depression, the first TV, the moon walk, space station and computer technology. He loved to camp, travel and fish, spending summers at Flathead Lake in Montana and Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho. He and his wife also traveled extensively in United States and Europe researching their genealogies. They published four hard bound books on the family history. Cecil was the past President of the Hanford Municipal Club from 1953-1954; member of the BPO Elk's Lodge #1259, Hanford for over 60 years; Deacon at First Christian Church and owner of an equipment rental business for 28 years. He and his wife were King and Queen of the Kings County Homecoming in 1998. He was also a charter member of the Hanford Showoffs, Honorary Life member of the "Jolly Bunch Dancing Club" and the Kings County Historical Society. He devoted many hours to the establishment of the Hanford Carnegie Museum. Cecil was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Louise, his brother, Jim Shelton, sisters, Katherine Boyd and Willa Mae (Billie) Redgwick and son-in-law Phillip Cody.
He is survived by his children, Tom and Kathie; two grandchildren, Cinda Cody and Loriana Cody Thompson (Craig) and great-grandson Matthew Cody Thompson, all of Lodi, CA; brother, Odie Shelton of Olympia, WA; sister, Jane Blair (Robert), sister-in-law, June Shelton, Mary Kay Hopper (Jim), all of Hanford, CA and numerous other beloved nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Monday, October 11, 2010 from 5 - 8 p.m. at People's Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty Street in Hanford, CA. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. at People's Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, October 12, 2010. Burial will follow at Grangeville Cemetery in Armona, CA.
Condolences may be made at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com.
Remembrances may be made to Hanford Carnegie Museum, 108 E. 8th Street, Hanford, CA 93230 or to donor's favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of People's Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty St., Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 584-5591.