Robert W. Shelton

Flanner Buchanan-Carmel

Robert (Bob) W. Shelton, 88 of Westfield, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Bob was born December 28, 1936, in St. Louis, Mo. to the late Lee and Francis Shelton. He married Elizabeth (Betty) Becklenberg on November 19, 1966, and moved to Kokomo, Ind. in 1970.

Bob received his Chemical Engineering degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1960. He began his metallurgical career with Emerson Electric in St. Louis where he was involved in creating the heat shields used for the Apollo Missions. He then worked at Union Carbide, Indianapolis, in the missiles and space division. After moving to Kokomo, Bob worked for 30 years at Haynes International as a corporate quality manager, and later in the same role for Greenville Metals in Greenville, Penn.

Bob was a member of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Westfield, and an avid Bridge player. He was a loyal St. Louis Cardinals fan and loved playing golf, especially at his neighborhood course in Kokomo, Green Acres Golf Course.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 59 years, Betty Shelton and his brother, Grayson L. Shelton. He is survived by his daughters, Trudy A. (husband, Dean) Himelick, Katherine M. (husband, John) Ritsmon and Angela L. (husband, Dan) Pantos; grandchildren, Justin A. Himelick, Christina A. Himelick, Kaia L. Pantos and Nikolas S. Pantos.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17 at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, where family and friends are invited to gather in the church narthex from 10:00 am until the time of Mass. Burial will follow at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery in Indianapolis.