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Robert Hayes Shelton, known to all as Hayes, left this world on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024.
He is survived by his wife, Beth Shelton; sons, Nathan Shelton (and wife Liz) and Ryan Henson; sister, Judy Shelton; many cousins, nephews and nieces; and a menagerie of beloved pets.
He was preceded in death by his brother Norman.
God brought Hayes into the world a little ways down from heaven, in West Virginia, on Nov. 22, 1945.
His father, Harry L. "Bud" Shelton, was a coach and professor at Davis & Elkins College, and his mother, M. Kathryn "Kate" Watring--among many other things--worked to prevent the destruction of its iconic Halliehurst mansion. The steadfast love of his family bouyed him to reach for his childhood dreams: "to try everything once".
Hayes achieved closer to that dream than can be summarized here. He played on an undefeated Elkins High School basketball team, then left for college at Virginia Tech as a civilian a short time after they began transitioning from a military academy. He experienced military routine and culture in college, being hazed with marching, where he also encountered The Navigators, an inter-denominational Christian group. Feeling called by God to work with The Navigators to reach young people for Christ, he declined an officer commission. He left Virginia Tech with a degree in Mining Engineering, but Christian service was in his heart. He spent several years working in Malaysia, and continued thereafter in sparking new churches, Bible study groups, and--more recently with Beth--supporting Young Life work in Elkins.
His wide travels and experiences seemed to convince Hayes that a life in West Virginia with family, friends, community, and a couple dogs, was the greatest of all joys. Though he never turned down a conversation with a stranger, his work as a substitute teacher and in Young Life meant he was always meeting new people. Fellowship was his gladdest thing, and he found it always.
His contentment through every twist and turn, and his confidence in God's plan, was unsurpassed. Though he was among the most joyful and pleasant of all men, his favorite book was Ecclesiastes, and his refrain from that book was this: "…there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil--this is the gift of God."
A service in celebration of Hayes' life will take place at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins, West Virginia, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., with the service at 3 p.m.
The Rev. Rich Cardot will officiate.
The family suggest that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the development of Wild Ridge Young Life Camp; https://giving.younglife.org/s/wildridgecampdevelopment.
Mr. Shelton's request for cremation was honored.
The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Robert Hayes Shelton.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.