Hildegard Katharina Shelton

Hildegard Katharina Shelton died on November 1, 2025 at home. Hilde was the youngest daughter of Christel and Martin Klein. Born on September 6, 1935 in Cologne, Germany, she emigrated to the U.S.A. on October 16, 1957, and was married to Robert Clayton Shelton on November 24, 1957. 

She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, sister "Gusti" Neuman, and her brother Ludwig Klein. Hilde is survived by her oldest sister, "Malli" Rang, her son Curry Shelton, and a plethora of loving nieces and nephews. 

Unable to avoid WWII, her father was conscripted and ordered to the Russian front in 1943, and her mother was later ordered to move out of Cologne, lest their food rations would be cut off, with all four children in tow. In March of 1945, her mother and oldest sister were wounded by shrapnel from a hand grenade, and transported to a field hospital, thus separating the family even further. Six months had passed before the three youngest siblings would see their mother again, and even longer before they were allowed to return home, where their father would find them three days later. It had taken him three weeks to reach his family, having been one of the first five POWs released from a Russian prison in Riga. Slowly, life moved on for the family; their home being one of the few that survived the bombs. Food rations ceased in 1948, making it a daily struggle to live a normal life, but with great effort Hilde's parents were able to provide her with an education at nearby school for girls. The occupation finally ended on May 5, 1955; Hilde had found work as a typist at the Ford Motor Company in Cologne, and on one fateful weekend, shared a Coke with a cheerful and funny G.I., who would one day become her destiny. After three years of courtship (sometimes in secret), Hilde emigrated to the U.S., became a citizen, found work at Blass Department Store, and got married to her "Bobby". After only five years, he would have a house built for them, and on June 12, 1969, they adopted a son and named him Curry Martin, and the family was complete. Hilde continued to work, and study, and mastered the English language and grammar, sharing her skills at companies including Teletype, Timex, and eventually retiring as an executive secretary at Arkansas Power & Light. Her hobbies included knitting, sewing, and the founding of several German-based organizations, including the German-American Club of Little Rock. 

She formed a dance group there, recruiting her husband, son, and quite a few club members, who would travel the state performing European dances at festivals, senior living facilities, and schools. Her most notable trait was always her fidelity to her Catholic faith. She once wrote in a memoir, “All in all, life has been good to me…”. Indeed.