Gwen Shelden
Gwenith Wilhelmina (Hewitt) Shelden of Susanville, passed away peacefully at Banner Lassen Hospital on January 10, 2018, at the age of 91. She was the oldest daughter of John Hewitt and Beulah (Burt) Hewitt. She had 8 siblings; 4 brothers and 4 sisters.
Gwen was born August 9, 1926, in Levin, New Zealand, where she grew up on a dairy farm. During World War II, US Marines, fresh from battles in the South Pacific, camped near the farm to rest and recuperate. There she met Fred Shelden and fell in love. They wrote letters for 4 years until the war was over, and he could send for her in 1947. She traveled alone by ship and by train to Nebraska to reunite, marry, and start a family. They soon had 3 boys, Fred, John, and Bruce.
Fred was in construction, and the family moved many times until Gwen finally said “enough.” Huntington Beach, California, became their permanent home. There, Gwen worked as a school bus driver for 23 years. Upon retirement, they moved to Hereford, Arizona, where Fred passed in 1981.
Gwen later moved to Susanville in 1988, where she could be near 2 of her sons and 4 of her grandchildren. She was active in the Methodist Church, Monticola Club, and the Hospital Auxiliary.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Fred W. Shelden; her son, Bruce A. Shelden; brothers, Jack Hewitt, Ronald Hewitt, and Trevor Hewitt; and sisters, Ellen Hewitt, and Nancy Trussler.
Gwen is survived by her sons, Fred D. Shelden (Kathy) and John A. Shelden; grandchildren, Nancy Johnston, Melissa Rhodes (Nate), Heather Carroll (Brian), Alex Shelden (Erin), and Rebecca Hodges (Ray); brother, Wallace Hewitt of New Zealand; sisters, Shirley Davis (Keith), and Myra Campbell (Brian) both of New Zealand; and 14 great-grandchildren
Memorial services to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to your favorite charity in Gwen’s name.
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