Josie Flippin Shelton

Josie Flippin Shelton, 101, of Morganton, NC died Thursday, May 2, 2013 following a period of declining health. Born in Stokes County, NC on September 14, 1911, she was the daughter of the late Joe Henry Flippin and Hester Wright Flippin. Josie was a member of Morganton First Freewill Baptist Church for over 63 years and was active until her stroke last year. During WWII, Josie worked as a riveter in aircraft manufacturing. She retired as a health care technician from Broughton Hospital after 28 years.Josie is survived by her son, Lewis E. Shelton of Morganton; a daughter, Joanne S. Arney and her husband, Clyde, of Morganton; grandsons, Jeff Allen Arney and his wife, Peggy, of Morganton and Robert Keith Arney and his wife, April, of Lenoir, NC; great-grandsons, Steven D. Arney of Granite Falls, NC and Randy Allen Arney and his wife, Nicole, of Morganton; great-granddaughters, Catherine Joanna "C.J." Arney of Lenoir, Jessica Leann Arney of Lenoir, and Shan Bryson of Morganton; special people who called her "Maw Maw", Eddie Alderson of WV and Crystal McNeely Hyatt of Charlotte; and two sisters, Allene Brown of Thomasville, NC and Otellia Flippin of High Point, NC.In addition to her parents, Josie was preceded in death by her husband, Gilmer E. Shelton.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, May 5, 2013 at Morganton First Freewill Baptist Church with the Rev. Jeff Boone officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes prior to the funeral hour.Memorial contributions may be made to Morganton First Freewill Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2654, Morganton, NC 28680.The family would like to give a special "thanks" to Savannah Miller, our niece, for being by mom’s side the past four days. All the CNAs and staff at Magnolia Lane, the nurses and staff at Burke Hospice, Ms. Libby Hardy who cared for mom this past year at her home; Catawba Valley Medical Services, their church family, Pastor Jeff Boone and his wife, Kim, Donna Wright and Tanya Sanders who read her the bible when she visited her each week, and to everyone to supported and prayed for Josie and family during this difficult time.