Larry Joe Shelton, 79, of Denton, Texas, passed away on May 24, 2025, in Denton. He was born in Lamesa, Texas on June 13, 1945 to Lee Roy and Alene Shelton.

Joe grew up in Aubrey, TX, and attended schools in Aubrey and Pilot Point. In 1963, he enlisted in the US Navy and served until November 1967. He was a machinist and served on several Destroyers during his service. He was a Vietnam veteran.

On April 12, 1968, Joe married Sandra LaDene Naylor and they enjoyed 57 years of marriage. The couple settled in Denton, and Joe owned Shelton's Texaco Service Station. After selling the station, Joe worked as a mechanic and service writer at Wyatt's Volkswagen for several years. He then worked as a mechanic at Denton Imports for a number of years before going to work at Morrison Milling Company. At Morrison's he was a diesel mechanic and Fleet Services Supervisor. Morrison's was a sponsor of the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial Wagon train, and Joe was in charge of two covered wagons Morrison's had in the train for the six month drive. He retired from Morrison's in 1996. During the time he was working at these shops, he also operated his own business - Unique Vehicles Unlimited - where he restored older foreign cars, specializing in Jaguars and Triumphs.

Joe was multi-talented and very creative. He personally did most of the work on restoring their 100 year old Victorian home. He created art from metal and other recycled materials. He loved animals, especially his mules and horses as well as any dog or cat that needed a good meal or home. He enjoyed bar-b-que competitions, using the pit he designed and built. His hobby in retirement involved restoring antique tractors, especially Farmalls. He was an International Harvester collector and restorer, especially pick-up trucks and Scouts.

Joe is survived by his wife, Sandra, his sister Retha Brooks, two brothers-in-law Pat Powell and Carl Naylor, sister-in-law Debbie Naylor and several nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers (Tommy, RL, Ray) and three sisters (Rosa Agnew, Joyce Gressett, Winona Gressett)

A funeral service will be conducted for Joe at Deberry Funeral Home at 2:00 PM on Friday, May 30. There will be a visitation on Thursday, May 29, from 5:00 - 7:00 also at DeBerry. Burial will be at Trinity Cemetery in Denton.