William Lee Shelton, Sr., aged 101, peacefully returned home to Jesus September 15, 2026. William, the beloved husband of Rosa V. Shelton for over 65 years, was born June 23, 1925, in Buckingham, Virginia, as the first child and only son of Willie Belle Shelton. He was raised in Buckingham, Virginia by his grandparents, William L. and Mary E. Shelton. William learned the values of hard work, integrity and discipline, developed a lifelong love of the outdoors and began a life of devotion to His Lord and Savior under the loving care and guidance of his grandparents.

He surmounted numerous obstacles in his life to become a role model for all who knew him. A proud alumnus of Buckingham Training School, then the only high school for African Americansin the county, William went on to serve his country in the US Army during World War II from June 1943 to December 1945 as a member of the vaunted Buffalo Soldiers. He was stationed in the Italian combat theater and distinguished himself by earning a Purple Heart among other military honors. After returning to the United States, he graduated from Virginia State University. He overcame the segregationist policy of the time, which prevented him as a Black man from pursuing graduate studies in the South, and went on earn a Master’s Degree in Soil Science from Michigan State University.

He married Rosa V. Shelton April 10, 1956, in New York City, NY. They moved to Plattsburgh, NY and had three children, Carol, Lois, and William, Jr. William, Sr had a distinguished career as a soil scientist, and the Department of Agriculture recruited him as part of a team requested by the Nigerian government to teach local farmers techniques to combat soil erosion in Northern Nigeria. As a result, he provided his family with the opportunity to live in Mubi, Nigeria for two years, during which they visited Cameroon, the Middle East, the Holy Lands, and Europe. Returning to the United States in 1966, the Shelton family eventually settled in Rockville, MD in 1968 where they lived until 2021. However, William’s and Rosa’s love for travel continued with visits to Hawaii, a cruise in Alaska, and two-week trip to Australia and New Zealand when in their early 90s.

As a devout Christian, William was an active member of Millian Memorial United Methodist Church in Rockville, MD. He was active in the United Methodist Men and served in many leadership positions including Lay Leader at Millian. He and Rosa were fixtures in the congregation. He had an intimate relationship with Jesus, and encouraged his children in their walks with the Lord. He was an oracle of wisdom and an inspiration to all who knew him. He was known and loved for his gentle, joyous and humble spirit in communities in Gaithersburg and San Diego, as well as in Rockville.

William is preceded in death by his wife, Rosa Versella Dean Shelton; son, George Woodson;and two sisters, Blanche and Carrie. He is survived by his children, Carol, Lois, and William Jr. (Tamara – spouse); brother-in-law, Wilbert Dean, sisters-in-law, Thelma Newman and Carolyn Wilson; along with several great grandchildren, multiple nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins.