Shelby Jean (Walters) Roten

Shelby Jean Walters Roten, age 84 passed away Saturday, July 23, 2022 at Forest Ridge Assisted Living.  Shelby was born February, 5, 1938 in Ashe County to the late Dempsey and Mattie Goodman Walters.  In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, George Dewey Roten and brothers, Wade, Frank and Guy Walters.

Shelby was a faithful member of Friendly Grove Baptist Church and attended as long as her health allowed.  Shelby graduated from Beaver Creek High School and was voted Miss Beaver Creek in her senior year. Shelby was one of the first people hired when Skyline Telephone came to Ashe County.  She retired after 40 years of service.  She had a great love of books and opened Browse About Book Exchange in the 1980’s while still working at Skyline.  Later on, she and her sister Margaret opened another bookstore in North Wilkesboro.  After retiring from Skyline she enjoyed working in her store in West Jefferson. Shelby loved to help people, in fact when Hospice came to Ashe County, she joined the board in the early 1980’s and served the county for three decades.  She helped with fundraising and community outreach and after retiring from Skyline she became a patient care volunteer.  She was recognized by the Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care in 2010 for extraordinary volunteer service for performing over 500 hours of volunteer service during the past year.  She also volunteered with Camp Sunshine helping grieving children cope with loss.  She was an extraordinary lady who will greatly missed by her family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, July 31, 2022 at Badger Funeral Home Chapel by Rev. Marcus Campbell.  Burial will follow in the Walters Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 pm Saturday, July 30th at Badger Funeral Home.

Mrs. Roten is survived by her son, Danny Roten and wife Renita of West Jefferson, daughter, Debbie Campbell and husband Marcus of Greensboro, grandchildren, Kristen Mendez and husband, Eric of Harrisonburg, VA and Kelsey Gruber and husband Nick of Madison Heights, VA, great-grandchildren, Emerson and Elleigh Mendez, step-grandchildren, Brian McNeill of West Jefferson and Ashleigh McNeill of Jonesborough, TN, brothers, Wayne Walters and Cecil Walters and wife Glenda all of West Jefferson and Tom Walters and wife Pat of Shelby, sister, Margaret Cooper and husband Mike of North Wilkesboro and sister-in-law, Diane Collins of Clover, SC.  Several nieces and nephews also survive.

The family respectfully request no food please.  Flowers will be appreciated or memorials may be made to Medi-Home Hospice, PO Box 421, Jefferson, NC. 28640 or the Walters Cemetery Fund, c/o Jody Walters, 2377 Nettle Knob Rd., West Jefferson, NC. 28694.

The family would like to thank the caregivers who helped take care of Shelby over the years, Dolly Osborne, Sherry Stuart, Kay Phillips, Carol Calhoun and Judy Roten.  We would also like to thank all of the caring staff at Forest Ridge, especially, Rosie Osborne, Chris Bare, Litzie Macedo, Taylor Walton, Chelsey Hamm, Josie Hoosier and Evelyn Holsclaw for the love and care they gave to Shelby during her stay.