Wallace "Pete" F Shelton

Pete, as he was popularly known, was born on May 28, 1936 in Redding, CA to Fred and Mary Shelton. He died at Mercy Hospital the result of a traffic accident on February 11, 2015.Pete attended Shasta Union High School from 1949 to 1951. He then attended Anderson High School graduating in 1952. In 1955 he graduated from Shasta College with an AA Degree in Heavy Duty Mechanics. He worked part time while attending classes for Machado Welding and Moore Equipment. After graduation, Pete worked as a choker setter for a logging company.In the fall of 1955, he enlisted in the Navy spending two years as radio man aboard the USS Whitehurst DE634. While sailing the Pacific he and his brother, Lee, who was serving aboard the USS Boxer aircraft carrier, met for a wild celebration weekend while on patrol of the Carolina Islands and Marianas up past Iwo Jima to Japan. He was discharged in 1957.Once again in civilian life, he worked setting chokers for a logging company. Then along came a job at the U.S. Geological Survey operating a pick and shovel installing stream flow gaging stations on the Trinity River and Coffee Creek. He began a career in the USGS as a Hydro-Tech in Sacramento and was transferred to the Redding office in 1959. He returned to Sacramento in 1964 to take charge of constructing steam flow gaging stations throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. During 1974 the Redding Field Office Chief position became available and he accepted the position. He retired from the USGS in May 1991.For 21 years he drove logging trucks and worked as a mechanic for his brother, Lee Shelton Trucking, out of Douglas City. During earlier years he worked on weekends for brother, Whimpy Shelton, as a mechanic. He also drove the mail truck for Matheson Postal Inc. on the Trinity County run from 2004 to 2011. In 2011 he started driving the water truck for Bundy and Sons Logging retiring because of health issues in 2014.He and Pat Phillips, his companion of 25 years, traveled much of the United States and cruised many interesting places around the world including Hawaii, Mexico and Antarctica.Pete is survived by his son, Scorchy Ray Shelton of Glendale, daughter, Kimberly Whittaker of Galt, CA, sisters, Isabelle Petersen of Redding, Verda Conway of Vacaville, Anna Hepworth of Fair Oaks, brother Charles Colby of Penry, 3 granddaughters, six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as his devoted companion, Pat and many, many friends. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Winphord and Lee Shelton, sister Elsie Rau, his parents, two former wives, Linda, the mother of his two children, in 1991, second wife Marge in 1984, as well as his great-grandson Jayden in 2010.All who knew him will miss one of the most giving, generous, helpful "Mr. fix-it" persons on this Earth who loved to talk on the phone, Email, greet you with "Top of the morning to you" and who always had a message to live by on his answering machine. Pete was a 50 year member of the Elks Lodge #1073, a member of the Shasta Historical Society and had donated whole blood and platelets for 22 years to the Shasta Blood Center. He was one of the most patriotic citizens with heartwarming messages at campouts, family reunions and gatherings. The Pledge of Allegiance was his specialty, especially on the 4th of July. You could always see the American flags flying on the back of his pickups.A Naval Salute will be held at the Igo Veterans Cemetery at 12:30, February 26th, 2015. A Celebration of Life Reception will be at 2:00 pm at the Fairway Oaks Mobile Park, 20350 Hole In One Drive, Anderson, CA. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Mary Colby Memorial Scholarship or the Lee and Dee Shelton Diesel Tech Memorial Scholarship at Shasta College, P.O. Box 6006, Redding, CA 96003, the Shasta Blood Bank, 2680 Larkspur Lane, Redding, CA 96003, the Shasta Historical Society, the Redding Elks Lodge or the charity of your choice.