Gladys Shelby

Gladys Kincheloe Shelby (98) left this world peacefully on Friday, August 23 at 1:55pm in her home at RiverCrest Place in Paducah.

She was born on September 21, 1920 to Delbert & Hattie Myers Kincheloe in Redfield, South Dakota. She had one younger brother, the late Ray Kincheloe (Rene).

Gladys moved to Ames, Iowa with her family in the 30s during the Dust Bowl drought. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics at Iowa State University in Ames. That’s where she met her husband Robert L. Shelby (from Ballard County, KY). He was on leave from the US Navy when they fell in love, ran off to San Francisco and married. He soon left for active duty but was blessed to return when the war ended. They were married 61 years until Bob died in 2004.

Gladys was a dedicated mother, wife and teacher of Home Economics. As soon as her daughters started school, she returned to her teaching career at Augusta Tilghman and then Paducah Tilghman High School for 30 years. Along the way, she earned a Masters degree in education at Murray State University. In her retirement, she was repeatedly rewarded by former students sharing their appreciation for her commitment to their education.

Bob and Gladys had two daughters; Roberta Shelby Higdon (Morse) and Karolyn Shelby Preklas (Brown), three grandchildren; John Higdon (Rachel), Ben Higdon (Jessica) and Shelby Preklas (Bri). Her great grandchildren are Reece Preklas, Katelyn Higdon, Caleb Higdon, Josh Higdon, Sadie Higdon, Sophie Higdon, Silas Higdon, and Eli Preklas. All currently live in Paducah. Her step grands and great grands are Matt Morse (Eli) and son Hank-Lexington, KY and Ivy Morse Leonard (Bob) and daughters Addie and Hannah, Greeneville, TN.

Gladys was the oldest active member of Immanuel Baptist Church where she served, worshiped, taught and was loved for almost 70 years. Her church family was especially dear to her.

Gladys enjoyed reading and playing dominos and cards with her friends in her senior years and sewing, cooking and entertaining when she was younger.

A service to celebrate Gladys’ life will be led by Rev. Jamie Broome on Monday, August 26th at Milner & Orr Funeral Home on Blandville Road in Paducah. Friends and family may visit from 11am until time for the service at 1pm. Ms. Shelby will be buried next to her husband at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Paducah

To remember Ms. Gladys, friends may make a donation in her memory to Immanuel Baptist Church, 3465 Buckner Lane in Paducah 42001.