Obituary of Perry W. Shelton

Perry W. Shelton Trout Creek—Perry W. Shelton, 97, passed away on Friday, April 22, 2016 at the New York State Veterans Home in Oxford. He was born August 4, 1918 in Cassville, MO to Carl L. and Effie (Wilson). Perry was a veteran of the US Navy aboard the USS Soley 707, and during the Korean War aboard the USS Daley 519. On October 22, 1960, he was married to Theresa Cribbs. They shared 38 years of marriage, during which they enjoyed traveling extensively. They visited China, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and Europe, as well as 47 of the 50 states. Theresa predeceased him in 1999. Perry was an active member of the local community. He served as Supervisor of the Town of Tompkins from 1958-1993 and 2004-2007, as well as the Delaware County Budget Director for 14 years. In 2007, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Board of Supervisors. He was president of the Catskill Water Shed Corp. until 2008 and chaired the Coalition of Watershed towns from 1991 to 1997, spending 250 meetings in negotiations with the City of New York. Perry was President and Co-Founder of the Sidney Federal Credit Union from 1955 to 1982, a founder of the Trout Creek Fire Company and a 66 year member of the Masonic Lodge. He was celebrated as the Delaware County Citizen of the Year in 1976, the Republican of the Year, and in 2008, the Town of Tompkins Town Hall was dedicated in his name. In addition to his volunteerism, Perry authored two books: "Recollections of the Town of Tompkins" and "Tompkins: The First 200 Years". Perry is survived by: two daughters: Barbara Finnerty (Peter Pearson) of Unadilla, NY and Phyllis (Joe) Reynolds of Trout Creek, NY; six grandchildren: Michelle (Ronald) Ellis, Loreen (Brian) Gebelein, Alicia (Michael) Collins, Robert (Carol) Reynolds, Jolie (John) Demeo, and Lynne (Steven) VanValkenburg; 14 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Friends may call from 2:00-4:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St. Sidney. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am on Thursday, April 28th at Sacred Heart Church, 15 Liberty St. Sidney with Fr. Bernard Osei Ampong presiding. Burial with military honors will follow in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Sidney. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Trout Creek Fire Dept. and Emergency Squad, PO Box 71 Trout Creek, NY 13847 or to the Sidney Veterans Memorial Park Association, c/o Sidney Community Foundation, PO Box 333 Sidney, NY 13838. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.landersfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.