Claud S. Shelor

Claud S. Shelor, 84, of Topeka, passed away on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at Aldersgate Village. He was born November 6, 1923 in Bloom, Kansas to Swanson and Nellie (Winkelman) Shelor. Claud spent his early years on a farm in southwest Kansas with his brothers, Marion, Dean and his sister Laura Carlson. His brother, Marion, and daughter in law, Debby, preceded him in death. Claud was married to Roberta Royston, May 26, 1946 in Manhattan, Kansas. Claud and Roberta had four children. Jerry and his wife Debby, their children Darin and Rachel; Claudia and her husband Tom Williams and their children Tyler, Noel, Brook, Cara and Sam; Tom and his wife Pat and their son, Brent and his wife Minnie; Steve and his wife Chris and their children Emily and Annie. We will all cherish the memories we had with Claud, but know he is in a peaceful place.

Claud was a graduate of Kansas State University, with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was a wheat and cattle farmer, engineer and a conservationist. During his career, he served as a project engineer for Boeing and a supervisor for Western Electric, Wichita; a consulting engineer for F. H. Gould, Dodge City; project manager and administrator for Brookover Land Enterprises, Garden City; and as a director for public works and county engineer for Ford, Finney, Sedgwick and Shawnee counties. He was state coordinator of waste reduction and recycling in the Department of Commerce during the administration of Gov. Joan Finney, and established the Kansas Surplus Exchange, a non-profit recycling business.

Claud was associated with the Kansas Engineering Society and NSPE, American Society of Civil Engineers and the Kansas Society of Land Surveyors. He was past president of the Kansas County Engineers Association. He served as a professional mentor to dozens of young engineers. He was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2008 at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Rd. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Claud will lie in state from noon until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home where the family will greet friends from 1:00 until 2:00 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care of Kansas, 2900-H Oakley Ave, Topeka, Kansas, 66614.