Bishop Gilbert Sheldon

STEUBENVILLE — Parishioners in the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville are mourning the death of former Bishop Gilbert I. Sheldon.

Sheldon, who served in the role for 10 years, died Monday at the age of 96.

“Bishop Sheldon personified a shepherd’s generosity and compassionate heart. His love for the people of God was evident in his travels throughout the diocese as he shared the good news of Jesus Christ. As his episcopal motto illustrated, he was strong in the faith,” Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton said in a statement released Tuesday.

Sheldon was installed as the third bishop of the diocese on April 2, 1992, and would serve in that position until he retired on Aug. 6, 2002. He remained active after stepping down, continuing to write biweekly articles for The Steubenville Register, the diocesan newspaper, a practice he began during his time as bishop. He also served as a judge on the diocesan tribunal, which handles marriage cases, according to information on the diocese website.

While serving as bishop, he worked on U.S. bishops’ committees for Latin America and administration; served with the National Advisory Council; and with committees on missions and nominations. He was a board member of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus.

Sheldon was born on Sept. 20, 1926, in Cleveland, one of 12 children of the late Ignatius P. and Stephanie J. Olszewski Sheldon. He is survived by sisters Susan (Hans) Gossler of Munster, Ind., and Nancy A. Sheldon of Rocky River.

Sheldon enlisted in the Army Air Force as an aviation cadet upon graduation from Cathedral Latin High School in Chardon in 1944. He would receive degrees from John Carroll University and St. Mary Seminary, both in Cleveland, and the Ohio Consortium of Seminaries in Columbus. Sheldon was awarded honorary degrees from Wheeling Jesuit University and the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

“Franciscan University joins the Steubenville community in mourning the loss of Bishop Emeritus Sheldon,” the school said in a release issued Tuesday afternoon. “The university presented Sheldon with an honorary doctorate in sacred theology in 1994 and the Founders’ Award in 2002. He is remembered as an exemplary pastoral leader and humble peacemaker who loved the priesthood and the Catholic faithful under his care.”

He was ordained into the priesthood on Feb. 28, 1953, by Cleveland Archbishop Edward F. Hoban. On June 11, 1976, he was ordained a bishop by Bishop (and later Cardinal) James A. Hickey. As an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Cleveland, Sheldon was the vicar for marriage and family concerns; vicar of Summit County; and vicar of the Southern Region.

Bishop John King Mussio was the first to lead the diocese, which was formed on Oct. 21, 1944, according to a history on the diocese website. Mussio, who installed as bishop on May 23, 1945, served until he retired on Oct. 11, 1977. He was followed by Albert H. Ottenweller, who was installed on Nov. 22, 1977, and who served until his retirement on April 2, 1991.

Sheldon was followed by R. Daniel Conlon, who served from Aug. 6, 2002, until being installed as the bishop of Joliet, Ill., on July 14, 2011. Monforton was installed as bishop on Sept. 10, 2012.

Visitation for Sheldon will be held at Holy Rosary Church, 280 Rosemont Ave., Steubenville, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday. A vigil service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Rosary Church. Burial will take place following Mass.