Barbara Joanne Shelton

Barbara married Floyd Stokes May 27th, 1952 and had her first child, Michael Gene Stokes who resides in Lacey Washington. She divorced Floyd and married Ron Shelton on July 21, 1954. Ron preceded her in death December 2019. She and Ron had two daughters. Shawnee Dean Myers (Dan) and Mahona Jo Sampson (Richard), four grandchildren, Ronee Marie Parsons, Daniel Lyons Myers III, Emily Morgan Johnson, Karlee Jo Sampson, four great grandkids: Elvis Lee Parsons, Kira Jay-Lougheed, Braxen Robert Dean Johnson and Hudson Lyons Myers.

In the early years, Barbara worked as a waitress part time and volunteered with the PTA at the girl’s schools. Barbara was a leader bringing Hot Dog Day to Shawn’s elementary school, every Tuesday. This was a fundraiser for the PTA that provided resources for the school.

Barbara and Ron resided in Napa Valley until 1968 when Ron’s job with the Telephone company brought the family to Vancouver Washington. She and the family enjoyed many weekends camping especially after she and Ron purchased 16 acres on the Toutle River on Mt St Helens. In 1974 Barbara, Ron and Mahona relocated to Olympia Washington. They liquidated all their real estate to partner with long time friends, Jerry and Darlene Capps and purchased the American Heritage Campground south of Tumwater. The partnership dissolved a few years later. Ron continued to work for the Telephone company and Barbara started her career as a medical receptionist. She worked in private practice for a few years and then went to work for Providence St Peter’s Hospital in their Diagnostic Imaging department. She remained with the Hospital for 15 years until she and Ron both retired.

Barbara enjoyed shopping, especially in antique stores and acquired many fine items. Bowling, Bingo and slots were some of her other favorite things to do in retirement. Since Ron did a lot of fishing in Alaska, Neah Bay and Westport, she had plenty of time to spend on these activities.

She was a good bowler. Considered one of the best women bowlers at Tumwater Bowling lanes. She bowled in the Friday Night Mixed 4s for many years. Teammates included her son Michael, Son in Law Dan, outlaws John and Lynn Wilson and Ric and Melanie Zassenhaus to name a few.

Barbara spent the last ten years in memory care facilities, most recently at Mercy Faith AFH in Tumwater near her daughters. The family would like to recognize the great care she received there and the great professional staff who work there. They are Angels who took great care of our mom.

A celebration of life for Barbara will be held Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Mills & Mills Funeral Home, 5725 Littlerock Rd SW, Tumwater, WA 98512.