Lieutenant Colonel Foy Oneal Shelley, USA, Retired

Wright Funeral Home & Crematory

15579 U.S.  Highway 431 South

Headland, Alabama 36345

(334) 6WE-CARE (693-2273)

www.wrightfuneralhomeandcrematory.com

Lieutenant Colonel Foy Oneal Shelley, USA, Retired

HEADLAND…Lieutenant Colonel Foy Oneal Shelley, Retired, Army of the United States of America, passed away Sunday, October 1, 2023, at his residence. He was 89.

          Graveside services, with military honors, will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 7, 2023, at New Zion Freewill Baptist Church, in the Tumbleton Community of Henry County, Alabama, with Reverend Joey Pettis officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. on Friday, October 6, 2023, at Wright Funeral Home & Crematory. They will also receive friends from 10:30 until service time in the sanctuary of the church, prior to the service. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

          In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to the New Zion Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o David Teat, 10033 CR 47, Shorterville, Alabama, 36373. 

Oneal (or Stubb, as he was commonly known) was born in Tumbleton, Alabama on October 28, 1933, to Adie and Cora Shelley.  He was raised in Tumbleton and attended Headland High School before joining the Army in 1952. He was a graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  

Oneal retired from the US Army in 1980, after serving 27 years.  He was a veteran of the Korean War era and the Vietnam war. While in the military Lt. Col. Shelley served in the Infantry branch and the Ordinance Corp at bases in Vietnam, Italy, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and numerous bases in the United States. He attended the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He taught at the Ordinance School in Aberdeen, Maryland. During his career he was awarded the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal and numerous other service awards.  Following his retirement, he served on the Henry County Water Board for several years.  In addition, he and his wife, DeLane, volunteered for many years as poll workers and with the Henry County Historical Society documenting the graves in the cemeteries of Henry County. 

Oneal met his beloved wife, DeLane Morgan, also from Tumbleton, as a child. They married in 1953. DeLane served faithfully alongside him, supporting him through his lengthy career, although it frequently meant long times apart. Oneal considered her “the epitome of a military wife”.  

Upon retirement, Oneal returned to the Tumbleton Community where he helped care for his parents, in-laws, and sister.  He also cared for his wife, during her lengthy illness. He was well known for his ability to grow anything and spent most of his retirement in his flower and vegetable gardens. 

In addition to his parents, Oneal is predeceased by his wife, DeLane Morgan Shelley.  Oneal is also predeceased by his parents-in-laws, Ben and Reba Morgan; his son-in-law Russell Holloway; his sisters, Mary Lou and Katie Shelley; and his brothers, Ronny and Bob Shelley; his sisters-in-law Rose and Miriam Shelley; his brother-in-law Allen Culp; his niece Colleen Stokes; and his nephew Shane Shelley.

He is survived by his children, Stephen (Marjorie) Shelley of Peachtree Corners, Georgia; Melissa Holloway of Pelham, Alabama, and Andy (Julie) of Roswell, Georgia. In addition, he is survived by his grandchildren, David (Emily) Holloway, Amanda (John) Carlisle, Anna Shelley and Sarah Shelley, his great-grandchildren, William, and Wyatt Holloway. He is also survived by his brothers Tom, Carl (Sue), Pete (Mae) Shelley; his sister-in-law Kathryn Culp; brother-in-law Gus (Marla) Morgan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Hunter Parker, David Holloway, Ben Culp, John Carlisle, Kirby Shelley, and Morgan Culp. Chris Shelley will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

The family would like to recognize Jean Brady for the care she has provided to both Delane and Oneal over the years and to Covenant Care for their care and empathy.

WRIGHT FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY

Phone 334-6WE-CARE (693-2273)

www.wrightfuneralhomeandcrematory.com

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