By Staff
BERRIEN SPRINGS – Family, friends and neighbors are invited to join Ethan Shelton as he celebrates his 105th birthday. There will be an "Open House" in his honor on Sunday, July 13 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Denise Shelton Memorial Picnic Pavilion, located east of Berrien Springs, on Jones Road 3/4th mile south of Pokagon Road. (Maps are available at Shelton's Farm market in Niles.) A picnic buffet will be offered from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m.
It happened in 1903! Teddy Roosevelt was president. Population of the United States was only 80 million. First class stamps cost 2 cents. Ford Motors and Pepsi Cola companies were formed. The first ever World Series was played in October. The Wright brothers first successful airplane flight was achieved in December. The Panama canal was an unrealized dream. And Ethan Brotherton Shelton was born in Alabama!
In 1926, he married Rose Marie Zimmerman in Chicago, Ill. He and "Miss Rosey" were happily married for 69 years until her passing in 1995. Together they raised a large family, including five sons and two daughters: Ron (Anna), Jean (Joe) Marston, Norman (deceased), Jim (Betty), Martha Ann ("Bunk") Webber, Kenneth (deceased) and Joe (Deb). To date, the family has grown to 118 children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
In 1945, they sold the family farm in Alabama and moved back to Chicago where they owned and operated a neighborhood grocery store on the near north side.
Ethan and Rose moved their family from Chicago to Berrien County and founded Shelton Farms in 1947. The business has grown through the years to include Shelton's Farm Market and Shelton's Wholesale Co. in Niles. The businesses are now owned and operated by three sons Ron, Jim and Joe and grandson Mike. Through the years, daughters Jean and Martha Ann have played key roles in the business, as have a number of other grandchildren, including Don (produce buyer), David (farm manager) and Kevin (shipping manager).
For many years, Ethan also barbered to supplement the farming operation. He owned Shelton's Barber Shop on Front Street in Niles until his retirement in the mid 1960s. Ethan is an avid gardener. Golf continues to be his favorite game. His favorite golf outings include Father's Day at Indian Lake and outings at Notre Dame and Hemlock Lake. He plays a wide assortment of musical instruments and travels to Wakarusa, Indiana quite often with his grandson Chad to make music. And he still finds time to ballroom dance once in awhile. And of course, he attends many birthday parties and other functions with his ever-growing family. Ethan is a member of the Berrien Center Bible Church where he attends each Sunday.