Wayne Gowan Shelton was born at home on September 27, 1928.  He was the son of Roy and Margaret Shelton of Mount Airy, North Carolina.  He was the second of 5 children. 

Wayne loved school and would cry on the last day of school.  He graduated from Mount Airy High School in 1945 where he was the captain of the basketball team.  He also participated in track and a musical with Andy Griffith. 

 

Wayne went to High Point College in North Carolina where he majored in History and English, played basketball and received an academic award upon graduating in three years.  He studied at Duke Divinity School and was married.  After graduating in 1954, he was assigned to four small churches, then became a chaplain for the Army.

 

When stationed in Vicenza Italy, Wayne fell in love with Italian opera and all things Italy.  He  also served in Vietnam for a year and spent three years at Valley Forge Hospital. Wayne retired from the Army in 1977 after serving in Okinawa Japan.

Wayne and Susan were married in 1971 in St Paul, MN.  He accepted a call to western MN where he would serve for the next 19 years as a small, farming town pastor.  They lived in Dawson, MN until his retirement in 1996.

 

In 1996, Wayne and Susan built a home in Osceola, WI  Within a year, he was a part-time pastor at Taylors Falls United Methodist Church (UMC).  He would serve there for 7 years.

 

Every summer, Wayne would travel to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  For 20 years, he would bring dozens of scouts, church friends and family.  He loved Duke basketball, birds, God’s creation and opera music.

 

Wayne never really retired.  He was even called upon in the middle of the night at the nursing home to provide comfort for a grieving family. 

 

The last 18 months, he was well cared for by nursing staff and Hospice.  His wife Susan never let a day go by without seeing him.

Wayne met Jesus face to face on July 22, 2024 with Susan and sister-in-law, Sandy Craighead holding his hands.  He was 60 days away from his 96^th birthday.

 

He is survived by his wife, Susan, his 4 precious daughters, beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and friends who are like family.

 

A celebration of life will be held on October 5, 2024 at the Taylors Falls UMC.  He will also be interred at Fort Snelling at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Wayne’s honor to Shriner’s Hospital, Taylors Falls UMC, Deer Lake Conservancy or a veteran’s non-profit of your choice.  Plans to honor him in the Blue Ridge Mountains also to come.