Dec. 6, 1942 — Dec. 12, 2013

“They walked in sunshine of a southern sun. They carried the strength and the glow of an unending love together…”

STARKVILLE — A celebration of life for Gwendolyn Cooper Shelton, 71, who died Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, will be 1 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel at the Good Samaritan Societies Fort Collins Village in Fort Collins, Colo. A second celebration will be 1 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Starkville under the direction of Welch’s Funeral Homes.

Gwendolyn Cooper Shelton was delivered by her paternal grandfather, Dr. William Harvey Cooper, on December 6, 1942, at her home in Delta City. By the age of 6 years, Gwen knew where she was going. After her maternal grandfather Benn Barr died, Gwen had questions. Gwen’s mother, Blanche, told her grandfather Barr had gone to heaven to be with Jesus. 

“But I won’t go to heaven!” Gwen said. Her mother turned off the stove where she had been cooking and led Gwen into the living room. Sitting on the couch, she explained that Gwen could go to heaven and prayed with her to asked Jesus into her heart. Gwen often told her salvation story to anyone who would listen. Gwen never wavered in her desire to one day be with Jesus in heaven.

As valedictorian, Gwen graduated from Glen Allan High School in 1961. She attended Mississippi College and was elected president of Jennings Hall, freshman homecoming maid, sweetheart of two men’s social clubs and class favorite after turning down the most beautiful award. Gwen was also selected as Mississippi queen of the forest and crowned by the Governor following the Jackson Christmas parade.

On July 27, 1962, Gwen married the first and last man she ever kissed, Ross “Skip” Shelton, at Lake Washington Baptist Church. Skip and Gwen were people of faith who had Friday night dates and believed the contest in marriage was to see who could out give the other. All their married life, Skip said of Gwen, “She is the loveliest creature inside and out that ever walked the planet earth.”

On July 27, 2012, Gwen and Skip celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Fort Collins among family and friends. Included in Gwen’s list of friends were waiters and waitresses, sales clerks and receptionists — they all came.  Gwen knew no strangers.

Gwen and Skip have one son, Mark Newman Shelton, born on July 26, 1967, at the old Felix Long Hospital in Starkville.

During the 1960s, Gwen worked at the People’s Bank in Starkville. She was known for her gentle spirit and winning smile. Skip often stopped by the bank and noticed that Gwen’s line was long while other tellers waited. For 40 more years, Gwen would be recognized as the “teller at the old People’s Bank.” Gwen always had a smile and a kind word. While others rushed busily through life, Gwen floated like a breath of fresh air.

Deciding to finish her education, Gwen attended Mississippi State University, earning her bachelor of science and masters degrees. She graduated with honors while being a helpmate to her husband, raising their son, and among other things teaching women’s “young married classes.”

Her love of people led Gwen to the vocation of teaching. She taught at Overstreet and Emerson Elementary Schools in Starkville, as well as Hebron Christian School in Pheba. Gwen later taught at Cle Elum Middle School in Cle Elum, Wash., was a faculty member at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash., and later retired from the faculty at the University of Tennessee at Martin as director of the reading development lab.

Gwen was an active part of many church fellowships as she faithfully followed her husband’s career. During the final months of Gwen’s life, she attended Shaeffer’s Chapel in Columbus, where during a class Gwen held up her hand. She struggled to say, “I want to say something.” With every eye on Gwen she continued, “I’m so glad that in heaven there will be grass and not concrete to walk on, and we won’t have to wear pointy shoes.”

On Dec. 12, 2013, Gwen walked on the green grass of heaven and met her Lord and Savior, the Jesus she had spent a lifetime seeking and loving. Her family and friends, though saddened, rejoice with her.

The Alzheimer’s Association has been very supportive of Gwen and her family during this long, difficult journey.  In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer that donations be made in Gwen’s memory to the local office of The Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter (Tax ID #84-0908354), 415 Peterson Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524; 970-472-9798; melinda.brown@alz.org.

Online condolences may be made to welchfuneralhomes.com and bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.