Mar 20, 1945 - Jan 23, 2023

Donald Theodore “Ted” Sheldon, Jr. died January 23 at home in Claremont.

Ted was born in 1945 to Dr. Donald T. Sheldon, M.D., and Mary Andrews in Salinas, California. His brother Greg was born two years later. He attended elementary school in Los Angeles, and when he was in eighth grade his family moved to Claremont.

He attended Claremont Junior High and Claremont High School, graduating in 1963. He continued his education at San Diego and San Jose state colleges. His avid reading and interest in history led to a lifelong interest in traveling and learning about places and things. While in the San Jose area he started and headed a circuit board company for several years while also traveling extensively in Northern California.

He was then lured to the culinary field, where he worked a number of years in Santa Barbara, then later back in Claremont as a chef at Pomona College. He most enjoyed Oldenborg Dining Hall, where he was able to interact with international students and cuisine.

While he was growing up his family spent time at Southern California beaches, deserts and mountains, stoking his love for surf fishing and out-of-the-way rivers and lakes. He was proud of the fact that he had traveled nearly all of California’s highways and many byways as well, often camping along the way. Upon his return to Claremont he bought his brother’s home on Olive Street, where he lived until his death. He had lifelong friends and many happy memories in Claremont.

In 1990 he married Linda Dyson, CHS class of 1966. They were married 33 years, during which time they traveled, enjoyed assorted cuisine, reading, and visiting Alaska, Hawaii, California, and Europe. They were also longtime parishioners at Claremont United Methodist Church.

He leaves his four-legged buddy, Chip; wife Linda; brother Greg Sheldon (Kathy); niece Poppy (Julie) and their daughter, Avery; nephew Gabe; brother-in-law Jerry Dyson (Davonna); nieces and nephews Courtney (Mike), Blythe, Dominic, and Aayla; and several cousins and other family members.

He will also be missed by the Olive Street group, Claremont High class of 1963, his friends, and many others.

A simple graveside service will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 9 at Oak Park Cemetery, 410 Sycamore Ave., Claremont, CA 91711.

In lieu of donations the family asks that you consider the message in this poem, “Epitaph,” by Merritt Mallory:

“When I die, if you need to weep,

Cry for someone walking beside you.

And when you need me,

Put your arms around others,

And give them what you need to give me.

You can love me most by letting

Hands touch hands, and souls touch souls.

You can love me most by sharing your goodness

And multiplying your good deeds.

You can love me most by

Letting me live in your eyes.

And when you say prayers for me,

Remember what our faith teaches:

Love doesn’t die. People do.

So when all that’s left of me is love,

Give me away.”