Phillip Joseph Sheltra, 78, of Westfield, VT, lost his battle with dementia with his loving family at his side at Maple Lane Nursing Home in Barton, VT on February 21, 2023. He was born on February 8, 1945 in Lowell, VT to the late Theodore and Ellen (Caswell) Sheltra.

Phillip was a 1966 graduate of Newport Center High School. He worked as a telephone installer for New England Telephone for 28 years. Phil owned 30 acres of sugarbush off the Loop Road in Troy and made his own maple syrup for many years. Upon retirement his dream was to own horses like his Dad did when he was growing up on their family farm in Lowell. He purchased two Belgian horses to start, but owned many horses over the years. Upon making his own sled and hay wagon, he and Karen did many events including weddings, parades, hay rides in the fall and 18 years of sleigh rides. Local people with their families who came repeatedly, as well as skiers and visitors from Jay Peak experiencing a sleigh ride for the first time. He was a lifetime member of Elks Club 2155 in Newport.

He is survived by his life partner of 34 years Karen Blais of Westfield, VT, his children Kevin Sheltra of Barton, VT, Keith Sheltra and his wife Elena of Eagle River, AK, Jaime Comtois and her husband Jon of Newport, VT, and Anthony Blais of Newport, VT, grandchildren Samantha, Brandon, Ryan, and Gus, his siblings Wilfred "Woody" Sheltra of Island Pond, VT, Phyllis McBride and her husband Adelmo of Grand Junction, CO, Paul Sheltra and his wife Yvette of Irasburg, VT, Judy Blanton and her husband Tim of Morgantown, KY, as well as his sister-in-law June Sheltra of Newport Center, VT, brother-in-law Gary Thomas and his wife Patty of Colchester, VT, and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Charles and Everett Sheltra, grandson Logan Blais and sister-in-law Brenda Giannino.

Friends may call from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. on Monday February 27, 2023 at the Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road Derby. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday February 28, 2023 at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Troy, with Father Curtis Miller officiating, where a mass of Christian burial will be celebrated. If friends desire, memorial contributions in Phillips's name may be made to the Orleans County Fair Association, to benefit horse pulling, C/O Shelia Martin, P.O. Box 580, Barton, VT 05822 or the Alzheimer's Association of VT, P.O. Box 275 Winooski, VT 05404. On-line condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home & Cremation Service, locally family owned and operated.