John Shelton Jr.

ANNA, Ill. -- John B. Shelton Jr., 82, of Anna died at 5:43 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born April 9, 1934, in Trigg County, Kentucky, the son of John Barnette and Clyde Elizabeth Joiner Shelton Sr. He married Margaret Hillman on Aug. 22, 1954.

John graduated from Trigg County High School in Cadiz, Kentucky, in 1952. He attended Freed-Hardeman College, earned his bachelor of arts at David Lipscomb College and a master's in communications from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

He became a minister of the Church of Christ at the age of 18, ministering to the Green's Chapel Church of Christ and the Horse Cave Church of Christ, both in Hart County, Kentucky, and to the Cadiz Church of Christ in Trigg County.

He and his family moved to Anna in 1965, where he ministered to the Anna Church of Christ for 30 years and to the Wetaug Church of Christ for five years, retiring in 2000 from full-time ministry. He continued to be an active member of the Anna Church of Christ after his retirement as both elder and church treasurer.

John taught school the entire time he was in the ministry. He taught at Hart County schools and Trigg County schools in Kentucky, and then as a graduate assistant at SIU-C. He became the first faculty member hired at Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Illinois, in 1969. He served as a speech and English professor and chairman of the Communications Department for 25 years, retiring in 1994.

John is survived by his wife, Margaret Shelton of Anna; four children, Mark (Diana) Shelton of Anna, Deborah Yates of Vienna, Illinois, Rachel (Bruce) Paschall of Florissant, Missouri, and Jeffrey Shelton of Normal, Illinois; six grandchildren, Stacy Shelton Crunk, Alyssa Shelton, Benjamin Yates, Jordan Shelton, Jillian Shelton and Jackson Shelton; five great-grandchildren, Logan Crunk, Ian Crunk, Cayden Sawyer, Coby Sawyer and McCormick Yates; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Jacklyn Bauer; three sisters, Eunice Howell, Nancy Wilson and Edna Cathey; and two brothers, Paul and Dennis Shelton.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Crain Funeral Home in Anna and from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at Anna Church of Christ at 104 Nile St. in Anna.

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church, with R.W. McAlister and Bryan McAlister officiating. Interment will be in Anna City Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to New Pathways for Children, 3311 Shaw Road, P.O. Box 10, Melber, KY 42069, a charity John helped found and on whose board he served for many years. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and the church. Its website is www.npfc.net.

To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.