Theodore SELLMAN

SELLMAN, Theodore "Ted" Ernest, 96, of Richmond, died Tuesday, December 6, 2011. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Mr. Sellman is survived by his wife of 73 years, Aurelia Mozel; and his son, James Sellman and wife, Barbara of Richmond. He was predeceased in death by his sister, Alice Allison of Dearborn, Mich. Mr. Sellman is also survived by his sister, Marianne Baum of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; two grandsons, Michael Bruce Sellman of New York, N.Y. and Jeffrey Bruce Sellman of Philadelphia, Pa.; and a host of friends and relatives. Mr. Sellman was a member of Bon Air Christian Church and served as deacon, elder and president of The Men's Class at Labelle View Christian Church in Steubenville, Ohio. He was an active and energetic volunteer in teaching retailing and consumer education in the Fort Worth, Texas and Arlington, Va. school systems and in leadership roles with Boy Scouts of America. As a 53 year Mason, he was a dedicated member of The Scottish Rite Temple and Masonic Lodge in Steubenville, Ohio and Chesterfield, Va. Lodge #1294. Mr. Sellman gave generously of his time, talents and leadership to his community by serving as head of American Red Cross fundraising, president of The Retail Merchants Association, officer and committee chairmanships in Kiwanis and Lions Clubs and on the advisory board of First American Bank in Arlington and Fairfax, Va. Mr. Sellman served our country during World War II in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps and as a drill instructor. Higher education included studies at the Universities of Denver and Colorado. His professional career included management positions in the grocery business and a long and successful career starting in 1940 with the J.C. Penney Company as a store manager. His particular talent was opening new stores and rehabilitating troubled ones. His friends and family will remember him as a man who had the ability to maintain optimism and live in the moment, laugh at and appreciate the paradoxes of life, take enormous pleasure in the accomplishments of his family, especially his grandsons, live the Golden Rule daily, and share his talents as an accomplished artist, athlete and musician. He lived as an enthusiastic student of science, religion and the affairs of man, finding beauty and fascination in even the simple creations of man and nature. Graveside services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, December 16, at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 4000 Pilots Lane. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, c/o ACCA Shrine Center, 1712 Bellevue Ave., Richmond, Va. 23227. Online condolences to WoodyFuneralHomeHuguenot.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.