James Churchill Shelton III passed away at home in Holmdel, NJ on September 20, 2026 at the age of 86.

Jim was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended Southwest High and was active at St. Andrews Church and in Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Jim studied engineering physics at Cornell University with a navy scholarship. He met his wife, Mary, at nearby SUNY Cortland and they married after graduation and Jim’s commissioning as a naval officer. They moved to California following Jim’s selection by Admiral Rickover to be an instructor at the US Navy Nuclear Power School at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. After teaching there for six years, the family moved to Ithaca, NY where Jim earned a doctorate in materials science and engineering at Cornell as a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow. After graduation, the family moved to New Jersey (first Berkeley Heights, then Holmdel) where Jim spent a career with AT&T and related companies, including Bell Laboratories, Western Electric and, later, Lucent Technologies. He started in fiber optics switching research and development before moving to the business side. On retirement, Jim went on to teach algebra and statistics at High Tech High School in Monmouth County and physics at Holmdel High School.

Jim was a lifelong learner and teacher. He was always eager to share his love of science and especially physics. He took up music in his retirement, taking classes at Brookdale Community College in piano, guitar and ukulele. He enjoyed being on the water. He became Scoutmaster of his eldest son’s scout troop and led canoeing trips. With his family, he sailed sunfish and windsurfed at Spruce Run and Sandy Hook Bay. Jim sculled on the Navesink River with Monmouth Boat Club and Navesink River Rowing Club. Many days began early on the Navesink River. He loved rowing and would encourage everyone he met to try it too.

Above all, Jim was a devoted husband and supportive father and grandfather. As his children grew up, married, and had families of their own, he and Mary made a point of bringing everyone together, gathering their children, spouses, and grandchildren for family vacations. Jim was an involved grandfather, helping to care for his grandchildren and taking an active part in their lives. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather whose curiosity, patience, and encouragement will be remembered.

Jim is survived by his wife Mary, their four children — James (Betsy), Anne (Gido), Mark (Patricia) and Ben (Regan), and their six grandchildren — Patricia, Christine, Jamie, Andrew, Nia and Teo. He is also survived by his brother John (Lucy) and their family. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Ruth and James C. Shelton, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to Friends of Monmouth Boat Club, Navesink River Rowing Club or a charity of your choice.