James Allen Shelton

Jim was born November 13, 1930 in Taft, CA and he went home to the Lord August 1, 2012 in Santa Barbara. He was a graduate of Westmont College and American Baptist Seminary of West. Jim loved Jesus and he loved people. Above all he loved "kids", "the teenagers", and brought so many of them to know the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus. He served in the ministry of Young Life for over 40 years first in the S.F. Bay area and then in the Los Angeles region. He taught at Fuller Theological Seminary in Youth Ministry for Young Life. In later years he founded and led The Youth Ministry Training Foundation: a ministry to encourage and enable the church in incarnational outreach to youth. He was a man of great natural humor with a remarkable and unforgettable gift of telling a story. Jim was a communicator Par Excellence who both spoke and wrote with great expressiveness. He was a musician who played the piano with much feeling and vitality. So many remember his trombone leading the "New Ashmolian Marching Society Band" welcoming kids into camp at Malibu Club in Canada where he served in leadership for 21 summers. He was a lifelong fan of baseball and the S.F. Giants, but his greatest delight in his last years was watching his grandsons play ball here in Santa Barbara. He is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years, Anne. And, also by his children, Jan Shelton (Bob Schatz), Sue Shelton, Heidi Shelton, and Tom Shelton (Stacy) and their mother, Barbara Ojena, along with Anne's children, Leslee Kinman (Robert), Lynn Klein Battisti and Jennifer Speier (Craig) as well as 14 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Others include his nephews, Ron (Lolita), David (Rachel), Steve (RubyJeanne) and Jeff (Karin) Shelton and their families. He was preceded in passing by his parents J.O. and Alice Shelton of Taft, and his brother and sister in law, Rath and Peggy Shelton of Santa Barbara. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 25th at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Barbara at 2 pm. In memory of Jim you may give to Young Life, to First Presbyterian Church of S.B. or to PRYME (Pastoral Resources for Youth Ministry Enhancement)

James Allen Shelton

November 13, 1930 - August 1, 2012