Donald R. Shelp

Donald R. Shelp, 92, passed away August 27, 2022.  Visitation will be 10AM, with services to follow at 11AM, Tuesday, September 13 at Southwood Church of the Nazarene, 8201 Raytown Rd.; burial in Green Lawn Cemetery.

Don grew up in the town of Owego, NY, the son of Herbert Shelp and Vivian Reynolds Shelp. He was their only son, and he had 3 sisters Beatrice (Thomas), Mary (Earl), and Jaqueline (Wren). He was preceded in death by both parents, and sisters Bea, and Jackie. His much loved sister Mary, lives in Mantua, OH. He attended the Owego Free Academy, and the Cleveland (Malone) Bible College in Cleveland, OH. He married Jimmie Mae Knight on September 2, 1950, (deceased December 1991) and was ordained in the Church of the Nazarene on May 5, 1957. Don and Jimmie had two boys, Paul Arnold (born in 1955) and Mark Robert (born in 1960). He was deeply loved by his 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Don married Glenna Turner of Skowhegan, ME in 1992, (deceased July 2019.)

To some he was Reverend Shelp or Pastor Shelp, to others, simply Pastor Don. He pastored churches in New Berlin, NY, (1954-1955), Schenectady, NY, (1955-1963), North Syracuse, NY, (1963-1967), Skowhegan, ME (1967-1973), Marley Park, MD (1973-1978), Kansas City area, Southwood in Raytown, MO (1978-1986), Excelsior Springs, MO (1986-1991) and was a member of, and then on staff at the Leesburg Church of the Nazarene in Leesburg, FL (1992-2015) until his retirement at 85 years old.

His influence and legacy stretches back and is still remembered by people back to Schenectady days, and will continue forward into the future through the lives of his sons and grandchildren, and his parishioners and their children for many years to come. His life was about one thing: knowing, proclaiming, and leading others to Jesus as Savior and Lord. His love for his family, his church, and his church “families” was deep, unconditional, and unwavering.

He was a faithful husband, a great Dad, a good pastor, and a kind and loving man to everyone.

One of his good character traits throughout life was the old adage of leaving things better than he found them. This was most often fulfilled through his appreciation for gardening, particularly flowers. Every church and parsonage were improved during his ministry there with landscaping beautiful flower beds and adding shrubs or trees. He was known for his beautiful rose bushes. Church signs were made attractive and welcoming. His habit of improving things developed into an enjoyment of garage sale and flea market finds, in Florida, also a source of supplemental income. He could find what would look worthless to someone else, clean it up, repair it, and make it useable again, for Glenna and himself, or to resell. It was not unlike his ministry to people. Through all the years of ministry, countless people of all walks of life would say they are better for this life, and the next, for having known Donald Shelp!

Visitation will be 10AM, with services to follow at 11AM, Tuesday, September 13 at Southwood Church of the Nazarene, 8201 Raytown Rd.; burial in Green Lawn Cemetery.