HELEN E. SHELTON-WALSH

January 7, 1928 – December 20, 2016

Obituary

Helen E. Shelton-Walsh joined her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in her Heavenly home on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 surrounded by her loving family. Helen was born on January 7, 1928 in McComb, MS, to her parents, Samuel Kirby Wilson and Elva Dexter (Vining) Wilson. She grew up in Mississippi with her two brothers and two sisters. 

When she finished her education, she took her first teaching job in Texas.  She taught school for nearly 30 years in Texas, Arizona, and Washington before retiring in 1988 after teaching at Jason Lee Elementary School in Richland for the last few years of her teaching career.

Helen met James O. Smith in Texas and they were married in 1950, however, the marriage ended after 12 years.  In 1972 she married Gerald Shelton and they were married for 28 years before he passed away.  She married Dan Walsh in 2004 and they were married for 6 years before he passed away.

She was a loving, kind, compassionate, and adventurous woman who loved being a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, and was a wonderful caregiver when needed.  She loved cooking, sewing, gardening, traveling, taking pictures, and spending lots of time with her family.

Helen was a faithful member of Richland Baptist Church and she loved serving the Lord wherever she was needed.  She taught Sunday School at church for many years and worked at the church camp during the summers, cooking some years, and then directing Girls Camp for 10 years.

She is survived by her sisters, Lettie Smith and Vera Lee Morrison, her sisters-in-law, Florence Wilson and Caroline Wilson, along with many nieces and nephews; her children, Jim Smith, Chuck (Mary Lou) Garlinghouse, Sherri (Bill) White, Helen Marie (Keith) Berry, Karen (Bruce) Strope, Jim Shelton, Lori (Con) Jaeger, Dan (Teri) Shelton, Steve (Pam) Walsh, along with numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Gerald Shelton and Dan Walsh; her brothers, Murray Wilson and Kirby Wilson; her step-sons, Jerry Shelton and Ed Walsh.

Public viewing will be held on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Events at Sunset in Richland, 915 ByPass Hwy.  A Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 10 am at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, 915 ByPass Hwy., followed by a Memorial Service at 11 am at Richland Baptist Church, 1632 George Washington Way, Richland. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Richland Baptist Church Building Fund or the Gideons International.