Howard Leon Shults

Howard Leon Shults was born in Fort Worth, Texas on September 7, 1952.  His parents were Velma Lee Etheridge Shults and J.W. Shults.   Leon married Vickie Lyn Pollard on October 11, 1974, and they were blessed with two wonderful daughters - Jennifer Leigh Shults Patel and Lindsey Alanna Shults Raymond. God blessed them with two fantastic son-in-laws Anant Patel and Chuck Raymond, as well as three beautiful grandchildren, Emma Claire Borgerding, Madeleine Harper Borgerding, and Remy Milhouse von Borgerding.   Throughout their 48 years together, Leon and Vickie loved taking road trips throughout the United States. Some of their favorite places to go were Fort Walton Beach, Seaside, Broken Bow, and Colorado.  Leon loved being near the ocean where he could relax and listen to the waves roll in.  As much as he loved to travel, you could never get him on a plane.  He would say, “If you fly everywhere you miss seeing so much and that’s what makes traveling fun!”  After Leon retired from Textron/Bell Helicopter in 2017,  the couple intended to keep traveling and celebrate a 50^th anniversary; however, the Lord had other plans.   Leon loved being outside in his backyard enjoying all the plants he and Vickie had planted and grew over the years in Crowley.  Most days he could be found with Vickie sitting on the patio with pinon wood burning in the chiminea.  They spent time talking and laughing together and made plans for what else they could plant in the yard to make it even more beautiful.   Leon also loved music and passed that love on to his daughters.  He made sure they grew up listening to groups like Chicago, The Moody Blues, The Beatles, Three Dog Night, James Taylor, Sting, and The Eagles.  There was always good music in the Shults’ house.   Leon never met a stranger, always wore a smile, and was very generous with his time helping others and making repairs for many elderly neighbors.  He had a servant’s heart and true love for people.  He was kind, tenderhearted, patient, and always could find the positive side in every situation.  He loved people.  He loved his girls, Jennifer and Lindsey, fiercely.  There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them and he always made sure they knew how much they were loved.  He loved Anant and Chuck as if they were his own sons.  Leon adored his grandchildren and made sure that time at Pop Pop’s house was filled with fun activities such as having flashlight parties in the backyard and making s’mores.  He also loved his “granddogs” Barkely and Penny and enjoyed playing with them.  Vickie was the love of his life and during the 48 years they were married he made sure she was well loved and happy.  He would do anything for his “Bickie Lyn.”   Surrounded by his family, Leon departed this earth and went to be with his Lord and Savior following a short but intense battle with cancer.  Leon would always say that while he did not want to leave anyone he loved behind, he looked forward to the day when he could be with Jesus and be whole and complete like it was always meant to be.  He is home now.   Leon’s older brother, Jay Dennis Shults, preceded him in death. Leon has two loving sisters remaining, Elaine Shults Kepley, and Janell Shults Powell with many nieces and nephews.   Visitation and memorial will be held on Friday, January 27^th, at Alpine Funeral Home, 2300 North Sylvania Avenue, Fort Worth, 76111, Texas, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.   A graveside service will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. the Crowley Cemetery at 300 North Hampton Road, Crowley, Texas.