Richard "Dick" Ellis Sheldon

Dick was born on January 18, 1931 in Laton, California. He graduated from Hanford High School in 1949 and was then drafted into the Army. During his time in the army he served in the Korean War where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He married the love of his life, Claudia, on June 7, 1957. They met at the Laton swimming pool in 1955 and they have been inseparable ever since. After his time in the Army he went to work for the Kings County Public Works Department, where he worked for 35 years. Once he began his retirement, his passion for gardening and his need for a break from his “adoring” wife, led him to a part-time job working with Eugene Correia doing yard service. Dick was a huge fan of camping and hunting, and loved working in his yard which resulted in a beautiful place for him and Claudia to enjoy while sitting on their patio in the afternoons. He also loved to play Pinochle, watch the San Francisco Giants, and support his grandchildren in all of their activities and hobbies. A gentle man with a “short-fuse;” Dick was a noble role model who was the rock of his family and supported and loved them more than words can express. He will be greatly missed and forever in our memories.

Dick is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mrs. Claudia L. Sheldon; two sons, Randy Sheldon and his wife Loraine of Laton and Danny Sheldon and his wife Jennifer of Hanford; one daughter, Linda Myers and her husband Rick of Laton; eight grandchildren, Mariel Neilson and her husband Caleb, Miles and Ellis Sheldon, Kent and Kassidy Sheldon, Lacee, Travis, and Trent Myers; and a great-grand child on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Nina Sheldon, a brother, Dean Sheldon, and a sister, Ella Cornelius.

Graveside Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Kings River Cemetery in Hanford with a reception to follow at the Laton Lions Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the American Heart Association, 722 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231 or www.heart.org/HEARTORG.

Arrangements are under the direction of People’s Funeral Chapel of Hanford www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com