Fred Shell

HAINES CITY -- Fred Shell, 79, peacefully went to be with his Lord surrounded by his wife and children on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, at Lake Wales Medical Center.

Fred was born October 8, 1933, to Gilbert and Verda Shell in Woodway, VA. He joined the United States Navy in 1953, and spent the next four years serving his country on the aircraft carriers USS Forrestal and Coral Sea.

He moved to Lake Wales in 1960, where he met his future wife Mary Kate Baggett. They wed in June 1965, and had a son and daughter within their first four years of marriage. Fred retired in 1995 after 35 years with Florida Power Corporation Fleet Services. He was a faithful member of Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Wales for 39 years, where he served as a trustee.

Mr. Shell loved his family deeply and they loved him deeply in return. He was a true people person, and he never met a stranger with whom he could not strike up an instant conversation.

Mr. Shell is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary Kate Shell; son Timothy Shell of Jacksonville; daughter Katrina Murphy (Robert) of Lake Wales; granddaughter Katie Murphy of Lake Wales; grandsons Ethan and Owen Shell of Jacksonville; and sister Patsy Bolton (Joe) of Kettering, OH.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Don Shell, and sister Polly Salley.

Visitation will be Friday, February 22, 2013, from 6 to 8 PM at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales.

Funeral services will be officiated by Rev. Larry Wallace of Trinity Baptist Church at Marion Nelson Funeral Home on Saturday, February 23, 2013, at 2 PM, followed by interment at Lake Wales Cemetery.

To view the webcast of his service, please click link below:
http://webcasts.lifetributes.com/376295