Obituary for Sherwood H. Sheffield
Sherwood H. Sheffield, 84, of Waco, Texas, retired Major in the United States Army, passed away on Friday, April 23, 2021 surrounded by his loving family. A Celebration of his life will be 2 p.m., Saturday, May 29, 2021 at OakCrest Funeral Home. Military Honors, as well as Masonic Honors, will be rendered.
Major Sheffield was born in Fort Worth, Texas to Otis Raymond and Ella Mae (Hill) Sheffield on March 10, 1937. He married the love of his life, Ilene Hale, in July 1954. He attended Austin Schools, but did not graduate with his Travis High School classmates in 1955 because he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954 and served on active duty until his retirement in 1978.
Sherwood was a Vietnam Veteran with service awards, which included the Combat Infantry Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm.
In 1973, he graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso, and in 1980 graduated from Baylor Law School, and in 2005, he was finally awarded a High School diploma in Austin, Texas. He practiced law in Central Texas where he maintained an office in Belton, Texas until 1997.
Sherwood was a devoted member of Bruceville Baptist Church and an active member of the Waco Bar, Texas State Bar, and the American Bar Association. He was a lifetime member of the VFW and Military Order of Cooties in Hewitt, Texas, Military Officers Association of America, where he served as legislative chairperson, the American Legion, and Combat Infantry Badge Association. He was also a member of the Eddy Masonic Lodge, National Sojourners, a Scottish Rite Mason, and he did volunteer work with Veterans Affairs and Providence Hospice.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed scuba diving, underwater photography, travel, gardening, reading, and cooking.
The Major's lifelong goals and objectives were to deserve the love of his family, see more of the United States, dance like no one was watching, and to be acceptable to God.
Sherwood was preceded in death by his parents, Otis (Red) and wife, Sharon Sheffield, and mother, Ella Mae Sheffield; brothers, Wayne Sheffield, Walter (Pete) Sheffield, and Don Sheffield; and his sister, Sheila Whitney.
He is survived by his wife, Ilene; daughter, Sheryl Statham-Jones of Waco, Texas; son, Steven and wife, Stevie Sheffield of Hewitt, Texas, and son, Scott and wife, Sheri Sheffield of Bartlett, Texas; 13 Grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
Note: The above information was provided by Sherwood H. Sheffield in a biographical note to family as well as himself, for he was already noticing his fading memory and didn't want to forget. Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease relentlessly stole his memories away. He was a loving husband, devoted father, and wonderful grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, and will be greatly missed.
The Major's family would like to thank the staff at Living Springs Village and Amedisys Hospice personnel for the care they provided in Sherwood's final days.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Central Texas Chapter - Alzheimer's Association at 2630 West Freeway Suite 100, Ft. Worth, TX 76102.
Major Sheffield was born in Fort Worth, Texas to Otis Raymond and Ella Mae (Hill) Sheffield on March 10, 1937. He married the love of his life, Ilene Hale, in July 1954. He attended Austin Schools, but did not graduate with his Travis High School classmates in 1955 because he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954 and served on active duty until his retirement in 1978.
Sherwood was a Vietnam Veteran with service awards, which included the Combat Infantry Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm.
In 1973, he graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso, and in 1980 graduated from Baylor Law School, and in 2005, he was finally awarded a High School diploma in Austin, Texas. He practiced law in Central Texas where he maintained an office in Belton, Texas until 1997.
Sherwood was a devoted member of Bruceville Baptist Church and an active member of the Waco Bar, Texas State Bar, and the American Bar Association. He was a lifetime member of the VFW and Military Order of Cooties in Hewitt, Texas, Military Officers Association of America, where he served as legislative chairperson, the American Legion, and Combat Infantry Badge Association. He was also a member of the Eddy Masonic Lodge, National Sojourners, a Scottish Rite Mason, and he did volunteer work with Veterans Affairs and Providence Hospice.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed scuba diving, underwater photography, travel, gardening, reading, and cooking.
The Major's lifelong goals and objectives were to deserve the love of his family, see more of the United States, dance like no one was watching, and to be acceptable to God.
Sherwood was preceded in death by his parents, Otis (Red) and wife, Sharon Sheffield, and mother, Ella Mae Sheffield; brothers, Wayne Sheffield, Walter (Pete) Sheffield, and Don Sheffield; and his sister, Sheila Whitney.
He is survived by his wife, Ilene; daughter, Sheryl Statham-Jones of Waco, Texas; son, Steven and wife, Stevie Sheffield of Hewitt, Texas, and son, Scott and wife, Sheri Sheffield of Bartlett, Texas; 13 Grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
Note: The above information was provided by Sherwood H. Sheffield in a biographical note to family as well as himself, for he was already noticing his fading memory and didn't want to forget. Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease relentlessly stole his memories away. He was a loving husband, devoted father, and wonderful grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, and will be greatly missed.
The Major's family would like to thank the staff at Living Springs Village and Amedisys Hospice personnel for the care they provided in Sherwood's final days.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Central Texas Chapter - Alzheimer's Association at 2630 West Freeway Suite 100, Ft. Worth, TX 76102.