from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Harold Turner Shelton Jr., 71, of Detroit, Mich., died Jan. 22, 2015.

A Detroit native, Mr. Shelton worked in the Detroit Public Schools from 1973-2001 as an elementary mathematics teacher, instructing thousands of students, primarily at Vernor Elementary School on the northwest side (1973-1998).

He sponsored the Vernor School safety patrol, beginning chess program, the Michigan stock market game, and assisted with the academic games program.

After his retirement, he remained active in education, working as a teacher, coach, mentor and tutor in several Detroit Public Schools and the Oak Park Public School District through 2011. He also worked as a part-time patient care counselor at Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital.

Born Dec. 1, 1943, Mr. Shelton graduated from Detroit Central High School in 1961 and served in the U.S. Air Force for four years with two additional years of reserve service (1962-1968). He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Wayne State University in 1973 and a master’s degree in education from Wayne State in 1979.

Mr. Shelton was an avid sports fan and a familiar face at University of Detroit Mercy basketball games, where he became a member of the Titan Club, and often took students on field trips to games there from Vernor Elementary School.

UDM was also the catalyst of a developing friendship between Mr. Shelton and John Deters, a UDM grad and fellow UDM basketball fan. This friendship led to the two forming a partnership in harness racing. Doing business as the 2 Titans Racing Stable, Mr. Shelton and Mr. Deters bought a horse, Numeric Hanover, that won the 2003 Jugette.

Family and friends described Mr. Shelton as a warm, gregarious and outgoing person who never met a stranger. He took the time to make connections with people across all boundaries of age, race, gender, religion and geographic origin. Even during his hospital stays, his medical team said he always had a smile on his face and remained a sports fan until the end, often doing March Madness brackets from his hospital bed and asking for that day’s newspaper to read the results of the previous day’s games.

Former students describe him as a skilled teacher who combined love and healthy discipline to give them a strong foundation in mathematics, and many considered him a father figure whose concern and care for his students continued long after they left his classroom.

He is survived by Jennifer, his wife of 43 years; daughter, Shannon (Corey) Miller; son, Harold III; grandson, Blake Miller; sister, Rhonda Fleming; brother, Wellsley (Petural); and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Viewing will take place from 4-7 p.m. on Friday (Feb. 6) at Swanson Funeral Home, 14751 West McNichols, Detroit. A family hour will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday (Feb. 7) at Hope United Methodist Church, 26275 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield, with memorial services following at 11 a.m.