Karmen Shelton (1903 - 1986)

Born 8 Sep 1903 in Owen, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Goldie Marie (Bond) Shelton — married about 1925 in Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 4 Nov 1986 at age 83 in Tempe, Maricopa, Arizona, United States

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Biography

Karmen was born in Owen County, Kentucky 8 September 1903. He was the son of Charles Shelton who was 43 and his mother, Martha Peyton was 29.

Karmen's young life was a bit hard to follow. His parents, particularly his mother, had a period of time that was difficult to follow. We have evidence where his mother married Charles Cornman in 1906 and then she is living with her first husband Charles Shelton in 1910 when the Census was taken. Here we have Karmen living with his stepfather, Charles Cornman and his new wife and his half-brother Willie Cornman when Bennie Redding gathered the data for the 1910 Census on April 27th. Karmen was 6 years old at the time. He wasn't attending school yet. We don't have any more information on his mother, Martha after the 1910 Census.

Herman Littrell was the Census worker in 1920 for Owenton. He recorded Karmen as an adopted son of a B and Nora Gilbert on January 2nd of that year. They also had a girl by the name of Mabel C Hill who was listed as a foster daughter. Karmen was recorded as being 15 years old and not enrolled in school. But he wasn't showing an occupation of any kind. The Gilbert family lived on Seminary Street in Owenton, Owen County, Kentucky.

Karmen Shelton married Goldie Marie Bond sometime in 1925, based upon data in the 1930 Census. They would bring 2 sons and 3 daughters into their family.

Karmen was 26-years-old providing a home for his young family at 612 Blaine Avenue, Danville, Illinois on April 8th, 1930, when Ethel Smith visited on behalf of the U S Census Department. Karmen and Marie were living in a house they owned, and it had a value of $2000.00. They possessed a radio at the time. Karmen is working at the foundry in Danville, and she is taking care of her two young boys and her husband. [1]

Karmen and Marie were making their home at 916 May St In Danville, Illinois based upon the 1931 City Directory for Danville. [2]

The next decade would bring many changes. Marie would bring 3 girls into the family, they would move to Indianapolis, Indiana sometime after 1935. That was where George Lynch found them on April 9th, 1940. They were renting a home at 817 W. 28th Street for $13.00 per month. The family consists of 7 people now. Their children are now 13, 12, 9, 7 and 4 years old. We learn Karmen completed the 5th grade. He is working as an engineer in an ice plant. He earned $1195.00 in 1939 at this job.

Karmen registered with the local draft board in Indianapolis for WW II on 16 February 1942. He was working for Polar Ice and Fuel Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. He was living at 967 Udell Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. He lists his wife, Goldie M Shelton as the person who would always know of his whereabouts. [3] He was 5'10" tall, weighed 176 pounds, he had brown eyes and black hair with a ruddy complexion. He had a scar at the base of his right thumb.

Another decade and another move for the Shelton's. The family moved to 424 W. Market Street, New Albany, Indiana in 1949. [4] Only the two younger girls made the move with them. Marie continues to work as a homemaker while Karmen works at the Ice Plant in New Albany as a stationary engineer. They remained at 424 W. Market St through at least 1951.

According to the 1955 New Albany City Directory they were living at 1628 Dewey St. [5] . Karmen was the manager of Polar Ice. This was their address at least through 1960.

He died on 4 November 1986, in Tempe, Maricopa, Arizona, United States, at the age of 83, and was buried in Green Acres Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Scottsdale, Maricopa, Arizona, United States.

Research Notes

• 1940 Census [6]
• 1950 Census [7]
• 1977 Pearl Risinger obituary, his sister [8] [9] [10]
• 1986 His obituary [11]
• 1986 Find A Grave: Memorial #105220381
• 1989 Marilyn Newkirk [12]
• 2000 Merle Shelton obituary, his son [13]

Sources

• 1910 "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M26V-GT1 : accessed 5 June 2023), Arman Shelton in household of Charley Cornman, Owenton, Owen, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 80, sheet 11B, family 274, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 497; FHL microfilm 1,374,510.
• 1920 "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHPQ-BWC : 1 February 2021), Commen Shelton in entry for B Gilbert, 1920.
• 1930 "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3MP-X7Z : accessed 6 May 2023), Karmen Shelton, Danville, Vermilion, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 19, sheet 7A, line 36, family 172, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 564; FHL microfilm 2,340,299.
• 1940 "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:V11Z-YRX : Mon Apr 03 21:45:04 UTC 2023), Entry for Goldie M Shelton and Marcella Shelton, 1940.
• 1986 "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J2LH-9NY : 9 January 2021), Karmen Shelton, Nov 1986; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
• 1989 "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K3L-7D6X : 10 February 2023), Karman Shelton in entry for Marilyn Joyce Newkirk, .
• 1997 "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K35-ZKV3 : 10 February 2023), Karmen Shelton in entry for Melvin Lyle Shelton, .
• 1998 "United States Public Records, 1970-2009", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJJH-KFV3 : 12 June 2020), Karmen Shelton, 1998-2004.
• 2000 "Arizona, Payson, Obituaries, 1948-2008", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2W7-F73M : 26 October 2019), Karmen Shelton in entry for Merle C Shelton, 2000.
• 2000 "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K3G-LJZL : 10 February 2023), Karmen Shelton in entry for Merle Charles Shelton, .