Elton Wesley Shepherd, Sr. was born on March 18, 1916 in Charleston, West Virginia, the son of Tisdale T. and Evelyn Shepherd. In 1928 he moved to Savannah, Georgia. Shepherd graduated from Clemson College in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Science. After graduation Shepherd began working for Eastern Airlines at LaGuardia Field in New York, New York. He married Valerie Helen Wilk (1914-2004) on April 19,1941 and they had a daughter, Valerie and a son, Elton Wesley Jr.

Shepherd was called to active duty with the U.S. Army in 1942 as a second lieutenant. He transferred to the Army Air Force in 1943 for pilot training and transferred to the 39th Air Freight Wing in a non-flying role due to his civilian expertise as an air freight agent. Shepherd was promoted to first lieutenant in December 1943. He was assigned to 1305th Army Air Force Base Unit, India China Division, Army Transport Command at the Dum Dum Airport in Calcutta, India as an assistant priorities and traffic officer in June 1944. In October 1944 Shepherd was assigned to the 1306th Army Air Force Base Unit at the Karachi Airport, India. The following month Shepherd was promoted to captain. He became air freight officer in May 1945 and assistant director for priorities and traffic in July 1945. He was transferred to the 1350th Army Air Force Base Unit in Kunming, China the following month. In September 1945 Shepherd was assigned as director for priorities and traffic for the 1369th Army Air Force Base Unit in Kweilin, China. He returned to the United States in December 1945 and was relieved from active duty in March 1946.

After the war Shepherd formed a home furnishings firm with his brother Robert. He was then employed by transportation companies in Savannah and Elberton, Georgia and a specialty freight company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Shepherd served on the Class of '39 Golden Anniversary Committee and on the Heritage Garden Committee. He died in Atlanta, Georgia on February 27, 2010.