Sheldon (Shel) Coudray of Tucson, Arizona passed away on July 16, 2019. Shel was born on October 10, 1923 and was raised in Plainfield, New Jersey. He entered the United States Army Air Corps at 18 and fought in the Pacific Theatre 7th USAAF as a top turret gunner and flight engineer on a B-24. Shel was awarded numerous medals and campaign ribbons including the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war he graduated Newark College of Engineering as a civil engineer and worked on significant public works projects throughout the U.S., including major bridges, dams, pipelines and tunnels. Shel spent the majority of his professional life living and working in Northern California. He concluded his long and distinguished career in engineering and construction serving as a consultant into his 80’s. He later joined the Pima Air and Space Museum and became a popular docent for several years in the B-24 hangar.
Shel enjoyed riding motorcycles since his youth and rode them regularly well into his 80’s. He had a deep love for animals and wildlife and often fed and housed both stray and wild animals throughout his life. Shel was an avid reader of history. His hobbies also included working with his tools on various home projects. Shel loved having a beer with friends and family and telling stories about his life. He was survived by his five children, 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Services will be held at East Lawn Palms Mortuary in Tucson, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, please donate to any animal charity or to hermitagecatshelter.org.
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