Ennis Eugene Shelton

Ennis Eugene Shelton, 79, died at Whidbey General Hospital, Coupeville, on Feb. 21, 2008. He was the youngest of 12 children born on the family farm in Linden, Texas, to Clement C. and Sally E. (Hall) Shelton.

Ennis was raised on the farm in Linden, in the heart of the Piney Woods region of northeast, Texas. At the age of three, Ennis lost his father. His mother and his siblings raised him. As a young man, he went to work at a munitions factory in Texas, supplying the troops during World War II.

The Shelton family moved Mom to Atlanta, Texas, and Ennis traveled to Spanish Fork, Utah, where he began work in a dry cleaning shop, owned by his oldest brother. He enlisted in the National Guard and was one of 2,070 officers and enlisted personnel from his Guard unit called to active duty during the Korean War. He served with Battery C, 145th Field Artillery Battalion. His company was responsible for much of the heavy artillery, including the 105 howitzers and the Long Tom. After the war, Ennis returned to the states.

He married his sweetheart, Doral J. Stalker, in Provo, Utah, on Oct. 6, 1952. In 1960, Ennis and Doral and three sons moved to Oak Harbor and a fourth son soon followed. Ennis found work as a dry cleaner, first with Midway Cleaners and then Dutch Maid Laundry. He was one of the most skilled professional dry cleaners on the island and was a perfectionist in his work. He retired after 50 years in the dry cleaning business.

Ennis was a former member of the American Legion, George Morris Post 129 and the North Whidbey Sportsman Association and was a long-time member in the Oak Harbor Men’s Bowling League.

Ennis is survived by Doral, his wife of 55 years, at the family home; by four sons, Ralph Shelton and wife Janis, Roy Shelton and wife Colleen, all of Oak Harbor, Reed Shelton and wife Judy of Coupeville, and Terry Shelton and wife Diane of Hope Mills, N.C.; and eight grandchildren, Adrienne Christian of Sequim, Laura Shelton and Douglas Shelton, both of Oak Harbor, Justin Shelton of Seattle, Maddison Shelton of Coupeville, Kassie Shelton of Hope Mills, N.C., and David Thrailkill and wife Jessica of Ft. Bragg, N.C., and Danielle Thrailkill of Hope Mills, N.C.

Ennis Shelton requested no formal funeral services be conducted. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow at a later date. Memorials may be made in Ennis’ name to the American Heart Association. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.