Shelton Bryant Oakes, 65, Mt. Comfort, departed this earth on the 18th of October, 2016. Born in Sulphur Well, Ky., December 14, 1950, he was the youngest son of William Raymond Oakes and Mary Bernice (Cassady) Oakes.
A 1968 graduate of Harry E. Wood High School, he attended Hanover College and received his BS degree from Indiana University in 1972 where he was co-captain of the first IUPUI intercollegiate basketball team – the 1972 Metros. As a member of this team, he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. He received his MBA from the University of Indianapolis in 1982.
He held managerial positions with Stokely Van-Camp, Pepsico Food Systems and MacAllister Machinery where he was Inventory Control Manager. He was a member of Amity United Methodist Church and a two term board member of the Mt Vernon Community School Corporation.
Shelton loved basketball, tennis, softball, cooking, gardening, Jeopardy, crossword puzzles, singing, playing pinochle and other card games with his life long friends John Roberts, Eddie Pierson and David Stewart, socializing with friends Mike and Candy Adkins, working with children and hosting family gatherings especially Christmas.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Dianna Sue (McGinnis) Oakes; son, Jeff (Jenny) Oakes; daughter, Susan (Nick) Ford; six grandchildren; brothers, Randall Oakes and Robert (Dana) Oakes; many nieces and nephews; long time family friend and role model and mentor, Gene Bennett and mother-in-law, Faye McGinnis.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Donald Oakes; Donald’s wife, Jerry Oakes; their son, Michael Oakes; sister-in-law, Emeline (Carnahan) Oakes and father-in-law, William McGinnis.
Viewing will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 23, at Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory in Greenfield, with services at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 24. Interment will be at Philadelphia United Methodist Church Cemetery, Philadelphia, Ind.
Memorial donations may be made to the Mt. Vernon Educational Foundation or Amity United Methodist Church, in lieu of flowers.
Friends may share a memory or send a condolence at erleweinmortuary.com or email condolences to [email protected].
