Howard Donald Shelton, Sr.

Howard Donald Shelton, Sr., 83, of Oak Grove, Louisiana, passed away on March 11, 2026, at his residence near Oak Grove.

Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on February 22, 1943, Howard moved as a child to Lake Providence, where he walked miles each day to pick cotton and later worked at Shorty’s Gulf Station. Determined to build a better life, he pursued a job on a pipeline crew at age 18. After being turned away repeatedly, he boldly jumped onto a work truck and earned his position through sheer persistence. He worked many years as a boilermaker, retiring at 49, then brokered sweet potatoes for five years before farming them for another 25. A longtime member of the Oak Grove Lodge #284 F.&A.M., he held an Amateur Radio License for many years under the call sign WA3WGJ. He enjoyed driving his Camaro in parades and cherished time with his family.

Howard was preceded in death by his father, Jesse Russell Shelton; his mother, Edit (Petty) Shelton; his stepmother, Dolly Shelton; four brothers, Robert, Ernest, Charles, and Jimmy Dale Shelton; three nephews, Roger, Leigh, and Beaux Shelton; and a niece, Valerie Dunn.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Velma Juadine “Bootsie” (Jordan) Shelton of Oak Grove; sons and daughters-in-law, Donnie and Cindy Shelton, and Timothy and Melissa Shelton, all of Oak Grove; grandchildren Jessica and Dion Burrell, Whitney Shelton, and Caleb and Carmen Shelton of Farmersville, Texas; ten great-grandchildren; his sister and brother-in-law, Linda and John Finley of Huttig, Arkansas; numerous nieces and nephews; and his beloved dogs, Lola and Tater.