Richard Hunt Shelly died Monday, August 20, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio, where he spent the last 5 years of his life residing with his daughter.

Born in Germantown, Pa. to the late Dr. Percy Van Dyke Shelly and Florence Mitchell Hunt Shelly, his youth was spent in Glenside, Pa. and the family home on Spruce Point in Boothbay Harbor.

He graduated from Germantown Friends School in 1933 and the University of Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1937. In college, he was a member of the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, the football team and the Mask and Wig Club. 

Additionally, he was referred to the Fine Arts School in Philadelphia and painted with the famous Russian portrait artist Benedict Anton Osnis for 2 years. Throughout his life Mr. Shelly produced a vast art collection of works he had painted in Maine, Barbados and elsewhere.

He served with the U.S. Army and was stationed in the city of Angeles, Luzon, the Philippines.

Mr. Shelly became an investment broker, a branch manager of Universal C.T.I. and an examiner with the Department of Banking in Pennsylvania. He was also owner and operator of the R.H. Shelly Co., a wholesale distributor in Newton Square, Pa. He finally became a registered licensed land surveyor for the state of Maine, wherein he laid out the sewer system for the town of Boothbay Harbor. He also completed hundreds of coastal land surveys for families in Maine.

In addition to being an avid reader and still walking to the Wiscasset Public Library in his 90s, he was an avid outdoorsman, a boater and a non-professional builder and home restorer. 

His local restoration and building projects included his former Spruce Point home, boat shed, barn and wharf in Southport, a home on West Harbor Pond and a barn, garage and book room in Wiscasset.

Mr. Shelly bought, restored and sold antiques and even became a Maine auctioneer, while at the same time creating a rare book business and constructing a separate building for its operations in Wiscasset.

He also enjoyed gardening and caring for stray and neglected dogs.

Mr. Shelly's family would like to thank his dear friend and former surveyor partner, Fred Farnham of Buxton, for his continued caring and kindness for the past 40 years.

He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Howard, William and Edward; his first wife and mother of his children, Ruth Ann McClure Shelly; and his daughter, Joanne Shelly Pearson. 

Mr. Shelly is survived by his daughter, Suzanne Shelly Bobb of Columbus, Ohio; and his granddaughters, Shelly Ann Bobb of Seattle, Wash. and Heidi Hunt Pearson of Carol Stream, Ill.

In respect of Mr. Shelly's wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service. To leave the family a private condolence, visit www.jerryspearsfh.com.