Dr. Charles Gibson Shellenberger

Dr. Charles Gibson Shellenberger April 23, 1919 - December 16, 2013 Dr. Charles Gibson Shellenberger of Waco passed from this life into the presence of God on Monday, December 16, 2013. There will be a private burial service followed by a Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, December 19, at Highland Baptist Chapel, with the Rev. Barry Camp officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, December 18, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel. Charles was born April 23, 1919, in Marietta, Oklahoma, to Jennie Gibson and Charles Luther Shellenberger. He graduated from Yukon High School as Valedictorian and attended Oklahoma Baptist University, where he was drum major of the band. He was voted Best All Around Male Student, was President of the Baptist Student Union, and Vice President of the State Baptist Student Union. Charles graduated from OBU in 1940 and entered Oklahoma University School of Medicine. While at OBU, he met Dorothy McManus, and they were married on May 25, 1941. He graduated from medical school in 1945, and completed his residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 1946, Charles and Dorothy moved to Waco, Texas, where he served as acting Chief of Surgery and Medical Services at the Veterans Hospital. He worked in that capacity for 1 years, and in July 1948, he opened his private pediatric office called the Children's Clinic. He practiced pediatric medicine from 1948-1987. After his retirement, Charles led medical mission teams to Guatemala. Dr Shellenberger was on the Board of Trustees at Baylor University from 1960-1969, was a member of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, served on the Texas Children's Home board of Round Rock, Texas, and served as deacon at Calvary Baptist Church and Highland Baptist Church. Charles was named Chief of Staff at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, was on the Board of Trustees at Dallas Baptist University, received an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Humanities from DBU, and was awarded family of the year of 1989 by the Waco Association of Christians and Jews. In 2013, at the age of 93, Charles was named National Marketing Director for NSA, the oldest person to have received that honor. Charles was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters; and grandson, Lowell Layne. He is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 72 years; daughter and son-in-law, Sally and Ottis Layne; sons and daughters-in-law, Melina and David Shellenberger and Vicki and Richard Shellenberger; and daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Gaines West. He also leaves behind ten grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Charles, Dodaddy, Doc Shelley, were some of the names this wonderful man was known by. He will be remembered for his strong faith, his deep love of the Lord, his family and friends, and his generous heart that ministered financially and physically to those he came to know. Honorary pallbearers are Gibson Shellenberger, Luke Shellenberger, Ramey Layne, Scott Stribling, Matt Porter, Noah Tevis, and Dustin Bookhout, and in memoriam, Lowell Layne. A special thank you to the wonderful women who cared for our father: Doris Ballard, who has been our guardian angel for 5 years, Mariana Rusu, and Marie Miller. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Highland Baptist Church missions or to Dallas Baptist University. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.