Weldon Robert Sheets

REV. WELDON R. SHEETS STAUNTON, VA Weldon R. Sheets, 89, of 1900 Hillsmere Lane died Thursday, December 12, 2013, in Emeritus of Staunton. Weldon was born in Mt. Pisgah, VA on October 5, 1924. He was the eighth child of George Emery and Catherine (Kate) Wine Sheets. He graduated from Mt. Sidney High School in 1942, and after serving in the Marine Corps graduated from Lenoir Rhyne College in Hickory, NC. On June 1, 1949, he married Nancy Ann Murphy who preceded him in death on July 13, 2006. After working as a teacher and salesman for General Foods, he graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA and was ordained in 1967. He held pastorates at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bluefield, WV, St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Portsmouth, VA, and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Huntingdon Valley, PA. He and his wife, Nancy retired in Newton, NC where he served as interim pastor for several Lutheran Congregations. Before moving to the Legacy of North Augusta, Staunton, VA, in April, 2013, he was a member, visiting pastor, and Pastor Emeritus of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Newton. His gentle spirit, genuine concern, and unconditional love for others enriched the lives of all who knew him. Surviving are two daughters and a son-in-law, Debby and Kurt Blankenburg and Terri Sheets Bradley, all of Asheville, NC; three sons, Gary W. of Minneapolis, Kent F. of Pembroke, VA, and Kevin E. Sheets of Suffolk, VA; seven grandchildren, Leah Grant and husband, Will, Heather, Kelly, Emily, and Kyle Sheets, David and Ryan Bradley; a great-grandson, Liam Grant; a close family friend, Denise Sigmon of Newton; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, Weldon was preceded in death by four brothers, Council, Clarence, Roscoe, and Rudolph Sheets and three sisters, Margaret Bambrick, Cathryn Harlor, and Eleanor Sheets. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at Salem Lutheran Church, Mt. Sidney, officiated by Bishop James Mauney, Rev. Chris Carr, and Rev. Ken Price. Burial will be private in Salem Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the Imagine Center after the service. The family would like to thank Dr. Jamison Chang, the staff and nurses of Legacy of North Augusta, and Emeritus for the care and support they gave Weldon during his declining health. Memorials may be made to your local Salvation Army, Pleasant View Lutheran Church, Salem Lutheran Church, and St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Newton, NC. Henry Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.