David H. Shelton; Retired Offshore Oil Worker

Surrounded by his family, David H. Shelton died Friday at his Ojai home after a lengthy illness. He was 75.

Shelton was born Nov. 8, 1923, in Westpoint, Miss. He was raised in Mississippi and joined the Navy in 1943.

For three years, Shelton served in the Navy at a base in San Francisco. After being honorably discharged, he moved to Ventura County in 1946 to be closer to family members.

He lived in several cities throughout the county before settling in Ojai about 25 years ago.

Shelton worked for 20 years for Richfield Oil, which is now Arco, said his granddaughter, Tammy Calhoun.

During those years, Shelton helped supervise the construction of the first man-made oil island off the coast of Ventura. The island, located near the Rincon, received and stored oil from tankers and other sources.

After Richfield, Shelton worked as a subcontractor for Union Oil. He was a foreman at several offshore sites before retiring from the oil industry in 1987.

In his free time, Shelton enjoyed golf and playing the stock market. He was a member of several golf clubs and men’s golfing circuits.

Shelton is survived by a daughter, Peggy Shelton-Machin of Ojai; two grandchildren, Tammy Calhoun of Ojai and Barry Hughes of Maywood, N.J.; and four great-grandchildren.

A service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Assisted Home Hospice of Ventura County in Ventura.