Sheldon Lynn Loudin, age 79, of Mt. Nebo Community, Buckhannon, WV, passed away on October 21, 2026, at his home with family by his side. He was born June 8, 1947, to the late John Oren and Myra Maxine Woods Loudin.
Sheldon was a truly one-of-a-kind person with a heart of gold. He found great joy in the simple pleasures of life, especially camping, fishing, and riding his mountain bike. Some of his favorite places to visit were Holly River State Park, Cedar Creek State Park, and Watoga State Park, where he especially enjoyed staying in a cozy cabin surrounded by nature.
When he wasn’t exploring the outdoors, Sheldon enjoyed building LEGO sets, putting together puzzles, reading informational books, and playing board games. He had a special love for animals and always held onto the hope that one day he would be able to talk to them, reach out to touch them, or feed them.
Gardening was another favorite pastime. Each summer, Sheldon would use his rototiller to prepare a patch of ground, finding just as much joy in watching the many creatures of God’s creation that came to visit his backyard as he did in the gardening itself. He was happiest when surrounded by the beauty and wonder of nature, where his gentle spirit and love for God’s creatures truly shone.
Another cherished time of year was the annual Ham and Bean Dinner, a fundraiser hosted by the Eden Homecoming Association, with proceeds supporting the upkeep of the church grounds and pavilion. After the meal, his favorite part was winning a cake (or two) at the cake walk.
Sheldon enjoyed working on bicycles and small engines and took pride in maintaining a well-organized collection of nuts, bolts, and other useful odds and ends. He had a special fondness for the gentle nature of cats and rabbits and is deeply missed by the family cat, Ojitae. He was always eager to lend a hand with yard work and make sure there was plenty of firewood ready for an evening campfire—especially when s’mores were on the menu.
He is survived by two sisters, Brenda and Matthew Friend, with whom he resided, and Crystal and Larry Jones; sister-in-law, Christina Loudin; and two brothers, Charles “Chuck” and Rose Ellen Loudin and Timothy “Tim” and Dora “Yvonne” Loudin; nephews, Nathaniel Friend, Samuel and Austin Jones, John, Evan “Case”, Jonathan, and Adam (Katie) Loudin; and nieces, Brandy Caynor, Kayla Bouscher, Trina (Jake) Rutherford, Kara (Kevin) Bellen, Traci Loudin, and Sierra Jackson; great-nieces, Olivia Caynor, Madilynne Bouscher, Indigo DeForrest, Annadra Dudley, Maya and Audrey Jackson, and Amy Loudin; and great-nephews, Owen Caynor, Broderick and Octavian Bouscher, Jacob Rutherford, Atreyu Dudley, Desmond and Marcus Bellen, Wesley Jackson, Bruce, Thomas, and Eliott Loudin, and Jackson Jones.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two infant brothers, John and Samuel Loudin; brother-in-law, Conrad Tenney; and nephew-in-law, Dorian Granruth.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Eden Homecoming Association, Attn: Miral Gibson, 535 Beverage Knob Rd., Crawford, WV 26343, or Holly River State Park Foundation, P.O. Box 2, Hacker Valley, WV 26222.
A private family memorial will be held at a later date. Inurnment was at the Laurel Fork Cemetery.
