Former Dora pastor dies in accident

A former Dora Baptist church pastor died Wednesday when he was struck by a vehicle while trying to assist another motortist in Wolfforth, Texas, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Phillip Shelton, 63, was struck by a 2003 Cadillac Escalade at 5:33 p.m. on U.S. Highway 62/82 and was transferred to University Medical Center in Lubbock, where he was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m., DPS Officer Lanny Hooper said. Hooper said no one else was seriously hurt in the accident.

“According to the report, he (Shelton) was helping out someone whose vehicle had stalled,” Hooper said. “The Cadillac Escalade came through and it swerved to avoid the vehicle. The pedestrian ran toward the center of the median when he was hit by the Cadillac Escalade.”

Patty Mohon, a member of the Dora church when Shelton was pastor, said Shelton was traveling to his home in Lubbock after leaving work in Wolfforth, a small town of approximately 2,600 east of Lubbock.

“He was the kind of man who did not hesitate to help someone in need,” Mohon said. “That was the kind of person he was.”

Mohon said Shelton pastored the Dora Baptist church from late 2002 to November 2003.

Mohon said Shelton helped the community with federal grant writing. Mohon said Shelton used to be in the U.S. Air Force and that he was also a pastor at Pleasant Hill and Tatum.

“He was a real knowledgeable man,” said Bill Cathey, another Dora Baptist church member. “He was a great mentor to my son, T.J.”

Hooper said there will be a follow-up report conducted. Hooper said the body was taken to a medical examiner on Thursday.

Funeral services had not been set as of Thursday afternoon.