William E. Shelton (Colonel, USAF Retired), 90, died peacefully on Thursday morning, Sept. 20, 2012, while under Hospice care at Standifer Place Health Center.Col. Shelton is a veteran of WWII and served with distinction and honor until his retirement in 1970. Earning numerous medals and awards throughout his military career, he flew "the Hump" during WWII and flew data collection missions during the atmospheric nuclear weapons tests in the South Pacific. Along with his teammates, he also won the USAFs William Tell Competition in 1963 as Commander of the 445th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, and then deployed with Detachment H on Project Razor - assisting the Republic of China (Taiwan) in operating U-2 spy planes (the Black Cat Squadron) over sensitive locations in SE Asia.A Chattanooga native, Col. Shelton returned home and held executive positions at several companies, including Krystal Inc. This was followed by many years of residential and commercial real estate development. He is a long-time member of St. John United Methodist Church and will be remembered as a devout man of God and a devoted husband, father and Patriot. He is survived by his wife, Becky, and three sons, Bill Jr., Steve and Tom. He also leaves behind six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, at St. John United Methodist Church, and he will be interred beside his beloved first wife, Juanita, at Chattanooga National Cemetery later the same day at 2 p.m.There will be a reception at St. John United Methodist Church following the burial.Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort to the family.The family will receive friends 11 a.m. until noon Monday at the church.Memorial contributions may be made to St. John United Methodist Church, or Hospice of Chattanooga, or The Wounded Warrior Project. Contributions to the WWP can be made through their website at www.woundedwarriorprogect.org, click on [donate in memory or honor of] , then [ of] William E. Shelton with an acknowledgment to Tom Shelton, P.O. Box 117, Pasadena, MD 21123.Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road.
