Obituary of Carroll E. Shelton

Carroll “Buck” E. Shelton, Jr., age 91, quintessential newsman, baseball fan and family man, died Sunday July 7, 2019 at Meadowood Senior Living retirement community in Worcester, Montgomery County.

Buck was the son of Carroll E. and Florence Holland Shelton.  Buck’s father was a newsman too as well as a public relations director in the Philadelphia political scene.  Buck was predeceased by his wife Patricia Stillmun Shelton of 62 years.

Born in Philadelphia on January 29, 1928, Buck graduated from Cheltenham High School, Elkins Park, PA in 1945.  Thereafter, he served in the U.S. Army from April 1946 until May 1947 during which time he was commissioned in Seoul Korea becoming editor of the 7,000 circulation Korea Graphic, a tabloid printed in Seoul and distributed weekly to the liberation troops.

Buck began his career in 1945 as a copy boy at The Evening Bulletin, the largest evening newspaper in America in the 1950s.  His favorite beat was taking stats at sports events.  Over the years you would never find Buck at a Phillies game without pen and paper copiously working on the box scores.

Following a break for Army service, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill to attend LaSalle College, Philadelphia, PA, earning a B.A. in pre-law in 1952.  During the last two years of college, he worked nights at The Bulletin where he remained for 35 years, completing his time there as a news editor.  When the newspaper stopped publication on his birthday January 29, 1992, Buck moved to The Times-Herald Norristown where he was editor for ten more years until he retired.

Buck was married on February 2, 1952 (Groundhog Day).  While an only child himself, Buck was the father of seven children.  They are Mary Pat Zack (Jim), Kathleen Smith (Bill), Deborah French, John Shelton (Pam), Michael Shelton (Karen), Margaret Varani (Kevin) and Peter Shelton (Dolly). Also remembering him with loving fondness are fifteen grandchildren: Stephanie Zack Jimmerson, Jessica Zack Whiting, Jeannine Zack, Will Smith, Patricia Smith, Maureen French, Diane French, Tim Shelton, Tamara Shelton Siler, Ashley Shelton Morrison, Kyle Shelton, Scott Shelton, Matthew Varani, Brian Varani and Janice Shelton. Buck was predeceased by grandson, P.J. Shelton.  He was also great grandfather to seven: Grace Siler, Paul Siler, Connor Morrison, Jackson Morrison, Kellan Jimmerson, Eva Jimmerson and Annie Shelton.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. and funeral mass 10 a.m. on Monday July 15, 2019, at Corpus Christi Church, 900 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale, PA.  Interment will take place at St. Matthew Parish Mausoleum, North Lane and Butler Pike, Conshohocken, PA.

Funeral arrangements are handled by Moore, Snear & Ruggiero, (610) 828-0330.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to Bread for the World, www.bread.org.