William "Sonny" Garland Shelton

William Garland “Sonny” Shelton, 88, of Statesville, passed away, Thursday, May 28, 2015 at Arbor Acres in Winston-Salem, NC.                 Sonny was born March 11, 1927 in Statesville, NC and was the son of the late Thomas Garland Shelton and Elmina Mills Shelton. He was a graduate of Statesville High School, attended The Citadel before entering the U.S. Navy during World War II. While in service he served in the Southeast Asia Theater and was honorably discharged in 1946. From 1947-1950 he attended University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. In 1951, he married the late Edith Allison Shelton, who passed away on October 28, 1997.  Sonny later married the late Jane Smith Johnston Shelton, who died on March 17, 2005.                He was retired from a long career in sales management with Rex Plastics, Inc.  He also founded both Films, Inc. and Poly Sac, Inc. where he worked until his retirement in 2005.                 His working career included Territorial Sales for Industrial Glues, established a Charlotte, NC sales office for Sharon Steel Corporation and then from 1970-1990, he was a long time sales manager for Rex Plastics, Inc., Thomasville, NC. In 1990, he became a self-employed sales representative selling Polyolefin for Buck Industries, Columbus, GA, Union Carbide of Canada and some smaller extruders. Until retirement he was owner and operator of Films, Inc. of Statesville, NC.                 Sonny was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church of Statesville, NC, where he served on the church Vestry and was a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock, NC. He was a member of the Statesville County Club and Blowing Rock Country Club, where he had served on both boards. In Statesville he served on the Civil Service Board, Paola Mills Board of Directors, Salvation Army Board and Fifth Street Ministries Advisory Board.                 In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas Noble Shelton, Joseph Garland Shelton, one sister, Elmina Shelton Roach Vellines, brother-in-law, William Locke “Bill” Allison, Jr., sister-in-law, Bettie Allison Rand and a niece, Virginia Allison.                 Sonny is survived by 18 nieces and nephews, Ann Allison Kincaid, Tommy Allison, Andrew Allison, William Allison, John Allison, Locke Allison, Sally Johnson, Allison Guess, Bill Rand, Sandra Roach Elliott, Jack Roach, Bill Roach, Tom Roach, Tom Shelton, Steve Shelton, Gregory Shelton, Tamra Shelton, and Joe Shelton. He is further survived by three step-children, James William “Jim” Johnston, III (Re), Randolph Smith “Randy” Johnston (Grace), Mary Elizabeth Johnston “Mary Lib” Richards (James) along with eight step-grandchildren.                 Funeral services will be conducted 3:00 p.m. Monday, June 1, 2015 at Trinity Episcopal Church with Rev. Bradley Mullis officiating. A graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday at Oakwood Cemetery. Following the funeral service a reception will follow in the Church Parrish Hall.                 Memorials may be made to Fifth Street Ministries, Statesville Boys and Girls Club and Trinity Episcopal Church and online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of William Garland “Sonny” Shelton.