Born: Aug. 20, 1926

Died: June 28, 2013

Ronald E. Shelton, 86, of Berrien Springs, died at noon on Friday, June 28, 2013, at his home following an extended illness.

He was born on Aug. 20, 1926, in Chicago, to Ethan Brotherton and Rose Marie (Zimmerman) Shelton.

He attended school in Reform, Ala., and was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper, moving to Berrien County in 1947.  He was an employee of the former Davis Products in Niles.

He was a fruit farmer most of his life and was retired from Shelton Farms, having partnered with his brothers, Jim and Joe and his nephew, Michael Shelton.

Ron was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles.  His love for farming was equally matched with his love for family.  He spent summer vacations camping and traveling to Sioux City, Iowa, to visit Ann’s family, as well as deer hunting in the fall and ice fishing in winter.

Stories shared by Ron will be carried on for generations.

On Sept. 4, 1948, at Saint Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Church in Chicago, he married the former Anna Louise Nitz, with whom he celebrated last year the 64th anniversary of their wedding.

He is survived by his wife, Anna Shelton, and by their children, Donald Shelton, of Berrien Center, Sandra (and Bill) Brant, of Benton Harbor, Daniel (and  Jeanne) Shelton, of Berrien Springs, Paul Shelton, of Niles, Mary (and Stewart) Gruver, of Stevensville, David (and Marie) Shelton, of Berrien Center, Douglas (and Linda)Shelton, of Berrien Springs, Ted (and Brenda) Shelton, of Berrien Springs, and Timothy (and Chastity) Shelton, of  Buena Vista, Col.; 28 grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren; Ron’s father, Ethan Shelton, of Berrien Center, and Ron’s brothers, James (and Betty) Shelton, of Granger, Ind., and Joseph (and Deborah) Shelton, of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Denise Shelton, in 1988; two sons, Dale Shelton in 1976 and Tom Shelton in 1992; his mother, Rose Shelton; and by sisters, Jean Marston and Martha Ann Webber; and brothers, Norman Shelton and Kenneth Shelton.

Visitation will be Monday, July 1, 2013, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Ronald Shelton will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, 2013, at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles by the Rev. David Otto of the parish and concelebrated by the Rev. William P. Melody of Notre Dame, Ind.  Committal rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Ronald E. Shelton may be made to Saint Mary Catholic Church, or to Hospice at Home.

www.halbritterfunerals.com