Estelle V. Shelton

Estelle Viola Shelton, age 87, of Woodway, Texas, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at home surrounded by loving family.

Estelle was born July 5, 1937 at home in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, the daughter of John B. and Florence Smail Dunmire. She graduated a year early in 1954 at the age of sixteen from Jeannette High School. After graduation, Estelle travelled to Waco, Texas to visit her sister Glennie, where she met her future husband Charles Shelton, who was stationed at James Connally Air Force Base. They were married on February 19, 1955. She later earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Baylor University, then went on to teach at Trinity School. Upon the school’s closing, Estelle continued her career at Connally High School where she faithfully served the Connally community from November 1972 until her retirement on May 31, 2008 earning the title Teacher of the Year many times.

Estelle and Charles “Chuck” Shelton were married until Chuck’s passing on August 25, 2015, sharing sixty years of marriage. Estelle and Chuck were blessed with two daughters, Shirley Lee Harris of Woodway, Texas and Stacey Lynn Mocek of Waco, Texas, who were her pride and joy. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Ovid, John, and Ted Dunmire; and sisters, Glennavee Marchyn and Naomi Steiner. She is survived by her daughter, Shirley; grandchildren, Jonathan and Julie Shelton, Kimberley and Daniel Balderrama, and Gary C. Harris; daughter, Stacy and husband, Brian Mocek; grandchildren, Jeremy and Elizabeth Mocek, and Jordan and Case Kooy; great-grandchildren, Landon, Jackson, Knox, Addy, Preslee, Jhett, and Savannah; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Estelle especially loved her career as a teacher and is remembered for having touched the lives of so many of her students with her unconditional love and acceptance. She remembered fondly her time at Trinity Church as youth director and Sunday school teacher and later treasured her Sunday school classes and services at Highland Baptist Church. She invested deeply in the lives of those who knew and loved her and will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 3 at OakCrest Funeral Home in Waco, Texas from 6- 9pm. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, June 4 at 11am at Highland Baptist Church with Mark Wible officiating. Interment will be at Rosemound Cemetery.

The family wishes to sincerely thank Interim Hospice for their tender care, especially Christi Skipper, Christie Remington, and Shirlanda Turner.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to cover end-of-life expenses to the family’s GoFundMe. https://gofund.me/a2782d6a