Submitted by Dan Rich

Samuel P. Shelby

Sept. 21, 1921 - Feb. 12, 2007

South Bend Tribune 2/14/2007
MISHAWAKA - Samuel P. Shelby, 85, of East Grove Street, passed away of natural causes at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center of South Bend on Monday, February 12, 2007. Samuel was born September 21, 1921, to Thomas and Dell (Higgins) Shelby in Waterloo, Alabama.

On February 3, 1946, Samuel married the former Ms. Ruth Keefer in Mishawaka. Ruth, his wife of 61 years, survives along with four sons, Thomas P. (Linda) Shelby of Granger, David R. Shelby and Samuel J. Shelby, both of Mishawaka, and Timothy S. Shelby of Florida. Also surviving are two daughters, Diane I. (Denny) Kring and Shelley J. Shelby, both of Mishawaka. Also surviving are three grandsons, Tavis, Patrick and Colton Shelby; and a sister, Helen M. Shelby of Mishawaka. Preceding Samuel in death were his parents, and a sister, Tempie Bottorff.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today, February 14, 2007, in the Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 10776 McKinley Highway, Osceola, IN 46561. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 15, 2007, in the Chapel Hill Funeral Home, with interment to follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola.

Sam was a graduate of Chillicothe Business College of Missouri where he played halfback for the football team, and also played baseball and basketball. Sam served his country in the Army Air Corps from 1942-1945 where he was an airplane engineer and gunner, flying in over 50 missions and earned seven bronze stars. After his honorable discharge, Sam was employed by the Studebaker Corporation for 10 years, and was then employed as the fire marshal for the School City of Mishawaka where he worked 36 years before his retirement in 1992. Sam was a member of the First Church of God where he taught Sunday school, and sang gospel hymns. In his spare time, Sam spoke to many classes about his experiences in WWII, and enjoyed reciting poetry and Scripture from the Bible.