Ruth Marion (Egan) Shelton, 90, of Hague, gracefully passed on August 10, 2024, surrounded by her children, Greg and Karen, and her son-in-law Faust.  As she would have wished and prayed for, she literally and quietly slipped away during the blessing of her last rites, and ascended into Heaven to immediately rejoin and dance with her true love and husband, Jerry.

Ruth was the youngest of 3 children, and was born at home in Scotia on July 11, 1934, to Marion K. (Kelley) Egan and Michael J. Egan.  Her baby book says, "it was a very hot day."  Mom often told me that it was during a thunderstorm and that lightning came out of the light fixture in the ceiling when she arrived!

She graduated with Honors from Nott Terrace High School in Schenectady, in 1952 and she was a majorette with her friend Joan T. whom she had known since the 5th grade.  Following graduation, she went to work at the New York Telephone Company as a stenographer and retired in 1989 as an inside sales manager.  She had perfect attendance and never missed a day of work.

She fell in love with the love and light of her life, Jerry Shelton, after being introduced by her classmate Bob S. (Thank you Bob – I don't think there has been another love as great as Jerry and Ruth's -- we had the most special, amazing, and fun parents ever in the whole world, ever.)  She often told us that she was in downtown Schenectady on payday when they were introduced, as Jerry was on his way to a new job giving dance lessons – needless to say, she found her lifelong dance partner that night, and they danced together on earth for over 54 years until he passed in October 2011.

She and Jerry married on November 10, 1956, at St. Lukes Church in Schenectady, again on a very warm and sunny day.  She said she picked St. Lukes because it had the longest aisle of all the catholic churches.   They both loved to dance and sing and did that often, and very well.  They loved singing as a duet, in choruses, and acting in many musicals with their beloved friends over the many years, with Schenectady Light Opera Company (Schenectady) and Royal Wood Golf and Country Club (Naples, FL).   They were always in perfect harmony, especially when they sang one of our favorite songs, "I met her in a greenhouse….".

They lived in Schenectady, Niskayuna, and then retired to Hague on Lake George, (and Queensbury) and wintered in Naples, Florida over the years.

She is predeceased by her parents and siblings, Robert F. Egan, retired US Navy, and Betty N. Grinter; as well as her beloved son, Andrew J. Shelton (2005); and her beloved daughter-in-law, Amy C. Shelton (2023).

She is survived by her son, Gregory Shelton, of Baldwinsville and he remains pure as the driven snow, only occasionally having gone adrift; her daughter, Karen (Faust) D'Andrea, Esq. of Saratoga Springs who drove her crazy; and her son-in-law, Faust who one might say became her best friend after Jerry passed, especially in the last couple of years.

She leaves behind four wonderful, kind, and loving grandchildren who all called her "Lovey" - Ryan (Alli) Shelton of Valencia, PA, Jenna (fiancé Kevin) Shelton of Clifton Park, Karissa (John) Quach of Cohoes, Haley (boyfriend Joey) Shelton of Indianapolis, IN, and daughter in law Kathryn Shelton of Saratoga Springs.

She leaves behind many countless friends and family who absolutely adored her, including her nephews Glenn and Marc (Sandy); and her "niece" Laura (Ed); all whom she loved so very much.  There are so many friends that touched her life and ours, you know who you are, there are too many to list here - thank you for being such fun, kind, and generous friends.  Her high school crew, her lifelong friends, and those at Arcady and Amherst. Cheers to a well lived life, a life well lived, and to love.  Aren't we lucky.

There will be a memorial mass for both Ruth and Jerry, whose ashes will be interred together privately, and a mass to be set at the convenience of the family.  Details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Ruth and Jerry's name to a charity of your choice that is meaningful to you, or to T1D , PO Box 5053, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5053 (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Foundation); C.R. Wood Cancer Center, C/O Glens Falls Hospital Foundation, 126 South Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801; Franklin Community Center, 95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866; or High Peaks Hospice, 1247 Dix Ave, Hudson Falls, NY 12839.

Condolences may be sent directly to Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804, or through www.bakerfuneralhome.com.

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