Roy Thomas Shelso

Roy Thomas Shelso

Jan 19, 1933 - December 15, 2021

Roy Thomas Shelso, 88 of Congress, Arizona, passed away peacefully in his sleep on

December 15 ^th 2021 at his group home in Surprise, AZ.

Roy was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to Roy K. Shelso and Bessie L. Shelso (Schramek). He graduated from Niagara Falls High School in 1951 before attending college.

Roy’s academic accolades include the Director’s List at New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Science in 1952, and membership in the University of Minnesota chapter of Theta Tau engineering fraternity. Roy’s love for learning and adventure propelled him into the fields of communication and transportation, where he worked for Bell Aircraft, Collins Radio Company, Rockwell International, Martin Marietta Astronautics Group, and Lockheed.

Roy also served in the United States Army from June 24, 1957 until June 23, 1959. Roy continued to educate himself on the side, taking diverse classes including computer literacy, certification courses for firearm safety, National Safety Council’s first aid training, CPR and teargas training. Roy became certified to teach and give exams, both in radio communications and as a flight instructor, and held other certifications including a Model Airplane Sporting license and an international driving license. He was both an Elk and a Moose (Avondale, AZ).

While with Lockheed, Roy participated in Project Oxcart and was involved with the Roadrunners, transporting CIA-commissioned A-12 Blackbirds (35 feet wide by 105 feet long and capable of achieving Mach 3.2) from Burbank, California to the runway site in Area 51 at Groom Lake, Nevada.

Some of Roy’s favorite activities included collecting and appreciating antique cars, and flying.  He was an avid Ragtime piano player and enthusiast, and he would also play his prized player piano for anyone who came to visit.   Some of his longest and most prized relationships came from his regular activities on his cherished Ham Radio.   Roy was also a member of  numerous organizations, including The American Radio Relay League (Lifetime member), Airplane Owners and Pilots Association, Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors’ Association, Sons of the Desert (Laurel and Hardy fan club), Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Rockwell International Flying Club, Laurel Amateur Radio Club, Roadrunners International, Crazy Horse Memorial Dreamkeepers Society, Escapees RV Club, Wandering Individuals Network, Escapade, West Coast Ragtime Society, Steam Automobile Club of America, Inc., The Classic car Club of America, Horseless Carriage Club of America, Antique Automobile Club of America, Good Sam RV Radio Network, Academy of Model Aeronautics, Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc., Ragtyme Jazztyme Society (Arizona), Maple Leaf Club, Musical Box Society, and Hassayampa Amateur Radio Klub.

Roy is survived by a brother, Gerald John Shelso, of Bradenton, Florida, and two nieces, Susan Shelso of Plymouth, MN, and Theresa (Shelso) Peterhans of Woodinville, WA.

Funeral Ceremony will be held at 1 PM on Friday, January 14 at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, 3600 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis. Visitation one half hour prior.

Interment Lakewood Cemetery.