Letha Shelton

PANTEGO -- After a lifetime of nurturing her large family and actively participating in mission work, Letha Burdett Shelton, 85, heeded her Lord's call home to rest Monday, July 7, 2014. Funeral: 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church, 301 S. Center St., Arlington. Interment: 2 p.m. in Glenwood Cemetery, Alvarado. Visitation: The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. Memorials: Donations may be made in her name to Mission Arlington, 210 W. South St., Arlington, Texas 76010. Letha was born Aug. 19, 1928, in Mosheim to B.C. and Sarah Burdett. She married Richard Shelton on Nov. 3, 1944. The couple actively participated in Southern Baptist churches wherever they lived, first in Dallas, then Arlington, Mansfield, Alvarado and Cleburne. Although the needs of her growing family of eight children kept her in perpetual motion, Letha made time to support church mission work. In addition, she never passed an opportunity to respond to the needs of those in her own corner of the world. Returning to the Arlington area in 2006 and joining Arlington First Baptist Church, Letha especially enjoyed participating in Monday Missions, International Friends, the Joy Class and Mission Arlington. Area residents might not be familiar with her by name, but would recognize the couple's small gift of a keychain with a rose carved in it. "My husband has been carving these roses for more than 65 years," She liked to say as she gave one away. "We give them to people to remind them that Jesus loves you." She was preceded in death by one son, Daniel Shelton of Fort Worth; and brother, Arvin Burdett. Survivors: Her husband of almost 70 years, Richard Shelton; daughters and their spouses, Elaine and Jim Thornton of Arlington, Linda and Bob Klem of Euless, Patty and Eddie Chennault of Gainesville, Janice and Raymond Griffin of Burleson, Leta and JW Parker of Canton and Peggy and Charles Creasy of Mansfield; son, David Shelton and Lisa DeRusha of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Kevin Thornton, Kelli Ennis, Connie Lattanzi, Angie Perry, Kim Noblitt, Lesley Glover, Chris Griffin, Julie Prunty, Will Leisure, Matt Leisure, Chaz Creasy, Michael Creasy, Brad Creasy, Jordan Shelton, Alexandra Shelton and Victoria Shelton; 18 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Eunice Alexander, Travis Burdett and Inez Littleton. Letha is also survived by special neighbors of over 50 years, Henry and Gertrude Yeats. Wade Family Funeral Home Arlington, 817-274-9233