Dirk T. Shelton
Start Date of Service: 1 June 2009
End Date of Service: 1 July 2014
Date of Death: 14 July 2014
JCU Member June 2009- July 2014
Dirk Thomas Shelton, 29, of Fayetteville, NC, formerly of Corbin, KY, passed away July 14, 2014. Born June 10, 1985, in Corbin, KY, he was the son of Tom and Jenny Shelton who survive.
A 2004 graduate of Corbin High School, he entered the United States Air Force in 2005 proudly serving his country in combat tours and numerous missions overseas, including six deployments (four to Afghanistan, and one each to Somalia and Kuwait). Sgt. Shelton’s heroism, service, and contribution earned him the Bronze Star, the Joint Service Achievement Medal (2nd OLC), and the Air Force Achievement Medal. Personal hobbies included working on his truck and bike and building various things.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents: Jim and Betty Shelton and by two childhood best friends: Jerry Allen Baker and Ian Hall. In addition to his father and mother, he is survived by his wife, Maria Shelton; sister, brother-in-law, and niece: Morgan Shelton Taylor, David Taylor, and Reagan; maternal grandparents: Earl and Mary Pennington; aunts, uncles, and cousins: Mike and Vic Moore, Jon and Amy; John and Penny Hammons, Johnny B., Julie, and Whitney; Joe and Missy Shelton, Emily, Jamie, and Joey; Martin Pennington, Jake, Brett, and Allie; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Israel and Nimfa Ocasio; and sisters-in-law: Melanie, Marissa, and Mia. He leaves behind special friends Willie Henderson, Paul Viars, and Adam Cox, along with his military family whom he dearly loved. Other family members and innumerable dear friends also survive, to mourn his passing.
Officiated by Pastor Adam Cox and Pastor Tim Thompson, funeral services will be held at 6:00 P.M. Thursday, July 24, 2014, at Grace on the Hill United Methodist Church located at 1632 Cumberland Falls Highway Corbin KY 40701.
The family of Dirk Shelton will receive friends Thursday from 2:00 P.M. until the funeral hour at 6:00 P.M. at the church. The Wright Patterson Air Force Base Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Special Operations Communicators Association www.thesoca.org or Shriners Hospital for Children in Lexington, KY www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/locations/lexington. Hart Funeral Home, Inc., is in charge of arrangements. Please visit www.hartfhcorbin.com to leave messages of condolence.