Phillip "Phil" Ronald Shelby, 85, of Milton, passed away Saturday, June 27, 2020. Phil was born in Pensacola, Florida, to his parents Harold and Stella Shelby. After graduating High School he joined the Army and became a paratrooper. Following his honorable discharge from the Army, he married Beth Moseley and together they had a son, Phillip Jr. He attended the University of Kentucky on the GI bill and earned his degree in horticulture. Following college he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration as an Air Traffic Controller. His first location as an Air Traffic controller was Atlanta, Georgia, where he met and married his second wife, Janet Stowe. Phil continued his career working as an air traffic controller in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Anchorage, Alaska. Phil continued his career in the Federal Government and in 1968 transferred to the Army Corp of Engineers in Washington DC and had his second son, Stuart. He remained with the Corp of Engineers until 1993 when he retired after 30 years of Federal Service. Upon retiring he returned to Milton, Florida, to be close to his family. His hobbies included tinkering with and maintaining autos, wood working, and in later life maintaining lawns in the sweltering Florida heat. However, he was happiest in retirement RV’ing with his beloved wife Janet and their cats. He is survived by his wife Janet; his sons, Phil Jr. and Stuart; his granddaughter, Grace; and his brother, Harold, and sister, Glenda. Graveside Services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at Barrancas National Cemetery, with Rev. Mike Poston officiating. Lewis Funeral Home of Milton has been entrusted with arrangements.