Robert Sheldon

Robert Brewster Sheldon was born June 6, 1927 in Salt Lake City, to Afton Bessie Platt and Albert Sheldon. Bob was the first child and only son born to Afton and Albert. A sister, Barbara Jeanne, came along three years later, and twin sisters, Patricia and Virginia, followed a few years after that. Bob's mother, Afton, was a descendant of Mormon pioneers. His father, Albert, was an immigrant from England. He eventually arrived in Salt Lake City, where he met and married Afton. Albert had joined the L. D. S. Church just a few months prior to his marriage to Afton. Unfortunately, Albert died in 1939, when Bob was 11 years old. His mother Afton, later remarried and another daughter, Jackie, was born to the family. Growing up during the Great Depression, Bob learned to save practically everything. His mother, Afton, was both talented and resourceful. She did what she could to help the family through those tough times. Bob attended South High School in Salt Lake City, where he graduated. He married his high school sweetheart, Maurine Fullmer in 1945. This union was not to last, however, and it was an especially sad time for Bob. He followed Maurine to California, presumably, in an attempt at reconciliation, but learned that it was not a possibility. To make matters worse, Bob received the additional heartbreaking news that his sister, Barbara Jeanne, had been killed in a car accident on February 5, 1947. Bob was not quite 20 years old. Deeply saddened by these events, Bob returned to Utah for his sister's funeral. He joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1952 and served during the Korean War. Bob apparently enjoyed his time in the army very much, being assigned to Paris, France. During this time, he acquired a Mercedes Benz that may have belonged to royalty before being confiscated by the German army during World War II. Bob brought the car home with him, when he returned to the states. (The car passed out of Bob's hands and he learned it was later restored and sold for something like one million dollars, according to a newspaper article.) Bob was called to serve an L.D.S. mission to Southern California, where he said that the missionaries were sent out "without purse or script," at least, for a time. Apparently, he learned to rely on the generosity of those he met to provide for food and shelter. Bob finally met his eternal companion, Wanda Thompson, at a New Year's Eve dance, the last day of 1957. Even though they both had come to the dance with other people, Bob had his eye on Wanda and when he learned she had lost an earring while there, he decided to go back to look for it. The earring was found, and so was Wanda. They were engaged on Valentines Day and married May 1, 1958 in the Manti Temple. Three daughters were born to Bob and Wanda: First, Barbara Jeanne, who was named after Bob's sister; then another daughter, Pamela, arrived 13 months later; and Linda Ann was born close to four years after that. The Sheldons lived in several different homes while the girls were young, mostly in Salt Lake. Bob earned a living, primarily investing in real estate. He learned how to bid on property involved in probate and tax sales. He also worked for the U.S. Postal Service for a time and owned and operated his own truck scale business. For a few years, he was employed as a ward custodian. Bob attended both the University of Utah and B.Y.U. for a time, but dropped out prior to graduation. During the time his daughters were growing up, his church attendance became rather sporadic and Wanda had to take the girls to church, mostly on her own, even though Bob baptized each of his daughters when they attained the proper age of eight years. Bob never smoked, nor drank, nor did he use foul language, but he suffered from depression and struggled with low self-esteem. When he became reactivated in the church, he served in a few different callings, but his favorite calling was probably as a Leadership missionary with his wife, Wanda. They received this call when they lived in the Parleys 6th Ward in Salt Lake. They were assigned to work in the Liberty 8th Ward in central city. Bob was a ward clerk (or possibly, assistant clerk) in that ward and he and Wanda enjoyed serving the many widows who resided there. This is where Bob and Wanda were assigned at the time of Wanda's passing in 1991. Bob became very active in attending Singles activities after Wanda died and he loved socializing at dances and other Singles activities. He met Sue Johnson and they developed a friendship that later became more of a business relationship.This disappointed Bob because he really hoped to marry again. Another lady came into his life, Marguerite Alexander, and they enjoyed a close friendship for approximately ten years, but she died in 2010. Bob was lonely and needed someone to look after him the last several years. He spent most of his remaining time on earth living with his daughter, Barbara, and her family in American Fork. His health had been declining for a number of years and he died on January 4, 2015. He was 87 years old.

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