Robert Eslinger Shenton
2008
Robert Eslinger Shenton, 87, a retired broadcast engineer at Washington's WRC radio and TV stations who also founded a publication for sports car enthusiasts,  died Aug. 4 at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock, Va. He had Alzheimer's  disease.
Mr. Shenton, a Washington native, graduated from  Wilson High School in  1938 and American University in 1942.
He worked at WRC from 1942 to 1985 and engineered the popular radio program  "The Joy Boys," featuring Willard Scott and Ed Walker, in the 1950s.
In 1965, Mr. Shenton helped found the Stopwatcher, a newspaper for sports car aficionados in Washington, Baltimore and Richmond. He edited it until 2002.
He owned a 1954 Corvette and was a charter member and past president of the D.C. chapter of the Corvette Club of America. He edited the club's newsletter  and contributed articles on auto sports to the Washington Daily News and  Washington Star newspapers.
Mr. Shenton participated in road rallies and was a longtime ham radio operator. In his youth, he played saxophone in big bands. He continued to  perform in wedding bands and other groups for nearly 50 years.
He lived in Bethesda for 55 years before moving to an assisted living  facility in Woodstock several months ago.
His wife of 48 years, Ruth M. Shenton, died in 1996.
Survivors include a son, Roger P. Shenton of Darnestown, and two  grandchildren.
-- Matt Schudel