Roy L. Shelton

Roy Laurel Shelton, age 89, was born the youngest son to Roy N. Shelton and Mary Jones Shelton in Madison, Indiana on January 18, 1936. He resided in Carmel, IN at the Barrington retirement community, alongside his wife of 66 years, Doris “Jeanie” Campbell Shelton.

Roy was renowned for a good story: and he came by this endearing quality honestly, with an impressive array of both natural gifts – like his by-ear piano virtuosity & repertoire that astounded all – and hard-won, intrigue-filled worldly experiences, spanning humble farm life to seasoned industry executive. His affable & unassuming style and homey humorous anecdotes warmed customers, colleagues, and fellow band mates to him alike. Roy’s work, ultimately as national sales director with FMC upon 30-yr retirement and then as director of sales at IMMI, was genuinely one of Roy’s three professed great joys. Family and music were undeniably his prime joys. Roy grew up the youngest of four siblings on a busy family farm, frequented a small country church where his Mom sang in the choir, and by age 10 was their burgeoning accompanist. He would go on to meet his wife Jeanie at Purdue through what became an enduring musical partnership when he accepted an invitation to accompany her singing trio. Roy’s entire family were the great beneficiaries of his love for music and his rare talents of perfect pitch and total song recall that allowed him to effortlessly reproduce tunes across classical, popular, and worship genres as his joyful noise unto the Lord. He delighted in using his piano playing to the musical uplift of others by serving in two different community-outreach band for decades- including an impressive all-seniors 18-piece swing band called the New Horizons Band.

Roy proudly raised three children – David, Linda, and Scott- and creditably instilled in them his value of higher education, particularly his love of history- with historical landmarks always featuring in vacation destinations – as well as of business & economics, his affinity for sports, and his appreciation for nature. Roy’s children, along with his 3 grandchildren, certainly reflect these passionate & loving influences.

Roy graduated from North Madison High School and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Engineering in 1958. He served in the US Air Force. He was a member of Grace Community Church. Preceding him in death were his parents; his brother Van E. Shelton and wife Jean; his brother James Mervin Shelton and wife Joyce; his sister Anna Francis Muller and husband Paul; his parents-in-law James and Noreen Campbell, his sister-in-law Joy Campbell McCormick and husband Richard; his nephew John Evan Shelton; his niece Jody Campbell Gasaway.

Roy is survived by his wife Doris Jean Shelton; by his children David Lee Shelton and wife Courtney, Linda Norine Shelton-Walker, and Scott Alan Shelton and wife Amy; by his grandchildren Graham Campbell Shelton, Evan Andrew Shelton, and Sophie Ann Shelton; also, by siblings-in-law, nephews & nieces, and numerous cousins & great-nephews/nieces.

Visitation will be held 11:00am -12:00pm on Saturday, September 13th, 2025, at Leppert Mortuary -Carmel Chapel, 900 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, IN. Funeral service will begin at 12:00 PM.

The family wants to acknowledge and express gratitude to Paradigm Health Hospice Group for their exceptional and loving care of Roy these last months.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Grace Church Care Center at (https://www.gccfoundation.us/) or to New Horizons Band at (https://newhorizonsbandindy.com/).