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BORN
1914
DIED
2015
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Alton Shea Obituary
He married Aileen Ortlip, who predeceased him in 2007.
Rev. Shea and artist wife, Aileen, served Christ's Kingdom in a variety ways and places for over 60 years. Rev. Shea graduated from Houghton College in 1936 and began further theological studies at Biblical Seminary in New York City.
Alton and Aileen married in 1938 and commenced pastoral ministry at Gates Wesleyan Church, being ordained a minister in the Wesleyan Methodist denomination in 1940. Subsequently, Pastor Shea served congregations in Painted Post, Canisteo, Houghton, Wellsville, Alfred and Oramel.
In 1970, after 14 years of local church and weekly radio broadcast ministries in Wellsville, the Shea's traveled to Sierra Leone, West Africa, to spend seven years in gospel radio production in several local languages for airing over Radio ELWA in Liberia.
Their lifelong ministry embraced preaching, singing and chalk art, as well as pastoral work. Rev. Shea had a lifelong interest and prayer concern for God's Kingdom at home and around the world. He desired everyone to experience God's love and care through a relationship with Christ Jesus.
Surviving are three children, Jonathan (Pat) Shea of Rock Hill, S.C., Eila Shea of Belmont and Paul (Debbie) Shea of Houghton; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Ruth Willett of Dahlonega, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by siblings, Pauline Lusk, Whitney Shea, Mary Robinson, George Beverly Shea, Lois Wright and Grace Baker.
Family and friends may gather from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 25, 2015) at Houghton Wesleyan Church, where a memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Wes Oden will officiate. Burial will be at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Houghton.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to Wesleyan Christian College, Gbendembu, Sierra Leone, through Houghton Wesleyan Church.
Online condolences may be made at www.koplerwilliamsfuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Alton Shea
January 26, 2015
The Family has my deepest sympathy for your loss. May the Hearer of Prayer comfort you through this difficult time-Psalm 65:2
Dennis Horn
January 23, 2015
I partially owe the fact I've made it 63 years to this steadfast Christian man who shook my hand every Sunday at the little Methodist church in Wellsville. Thank you.
January 21, 2015
Dear Eila and family, Please accept my mother's and my condolences for your father's passing. We remember him and your mother well.We are thankful he knew Jesus as savior and is with Him in heaven today. God bless you. Phyllis barozzini Crisafulli and Ila Barozzini.
robert johnson
January 21, 2015
rev shea was my minister @ the gates weslyn church in the 1940s unforgetable - rest in peace
January 21, 2015
rev shea was my min ister @the gates weslyn chuch on log pond rd wont forget his sermos & the impact the had -rest in peac e
January 21, 2015
he was my pastor @ weslyn mthodist church in gates during the 1940s unforgetable
a
Bill Mattison
January 20, 2015
Rev Shay lived a full life serving Jesus and will be welcomed in Heaven. I'll always remember him and his family. They took such good care of the Mattison's in the 60s. Prayers for his family.
bev Mattison Nye
January 20, 2015
will always remember Rev Shay He was such a part of my growing up years and leading me in the right direction
Pastor Calvin Densmore
January 20, 2015
Rev Shea was my Pastor when I was a child. He sang some beautiful duets with my Aunt Adaline Densmore Hildebrandt, He had quite an influence on my life
William Jones
January 19, 2015
Reverend Shay brings back old memories when I worked at WLSV in Wellsville and had the honor of introducing his weekly Sunday program. It was an honor to have known such a great man.
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