Allen Wellington Shelton Jr.

Allen Wellington Shelton, Jr.

Resident of San Mateo

On the evening of Friday, September 10th, Allen Wellington Shelton, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home at the Peninsula Regent in San Mateo. He had experienced life in the fullest sense of the word, having been married to his beloved wife Wynne for 56 years, and with whom he raised four children and traveled the world. Allen was born on July 20, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York to Allen W. and Marion Brown Shelton. He was a product of the Princeton Country Day School, Berkshire Preparatory School and Williams College, where he graduated in 1940 with a B.S. in Physics. He had planned on graduate school at Columbia University, but his plans were cut short by WWII. Drafted into the U.S. Army and assigned to the Coast Artillery, it wasn't long before he was selected for Officer Candidate School, an assignment with the Combat Engineers and deployment as a young lieutenant, serving in Italy, North Africa and the Philippines. At the war's conclusion, he was hired by Will Scientific in NYC, where he climbed the ladder and eventually became Vice President and Technical Director. During this period, he met Winifred Claire Fields, as the result of a blind date. A storybook romance ensued and they were married in 1947. Allen and Wynne had four children: Donald Bruce, Pamela Jean, Nancy Lee and Carol Anne. A job transfer took the family to Rochester, New York and, ultimately, the Bay Area, where Allen completed his career serving with Van Waters & Rogers and, finally, Varian Associates. Upon retirement, the couple wished to remain active and, at the same time, indulge their passion for international travel. The result was All Wynds Travel in San Mateo, their first (and only) foray into the world of small business ownership. Their loyal and extensive client base (both leisure and corporate) resulted in a very successful agency, with a staff of six and a reputation for travel expertise. When they finally sold the agency to their staff, their Hillsborough home became the point from which they would continue their global travels. Their adventures to over 200 countries resulted in an invitation to join the prestigious Century Club (limited to those who can document travel to at least 100 countries). Allen's community involvements included the Kiwanis Club, the Commonwealth Club, and the Friendship Force, among many others. His heart, however, belonged to the Congregational Church of San Mateo, where he was a long time member and supporter. An active philanthropist, he was an avid supporter of the Southern Poverty Law Center and of daughter Pam's Botswana Book Project. Aside from travel, his passions included skiing, sailing, Civil War history, the many social activities orchestrated by his wifeand time spent with his four grandchildren. Allen's beloved wife Wynne passed away in 2004, and he moved shortly thereafter to the Peninsula Regent. In addition to his wife, Allen was preceded in death by his brother Greg and his sister Meredith, and is survived by his four children and four grandchildren.

Allen personified the word gentleman. The genuine warmth he exuded, his kindness, his love of animals and his (at times delightfully mischievous) sense of humor made him a favorite of all who met him. He will be missed

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010 at the Congregational Church of San Mateo.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to his two favorite causes: Botswana Book Project (www.botswanabookproject.org) and The Peninsula Humane Society (12 Airport Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94401).