Obituary: Richard George Kelly

Richard George Kelly, son of Paul Ishmael Kelly and Helen Estelle Goldman Kelly, died peacefully Tuesday morning in the compassionate care of Hospice and surrounded by the love of his family after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was greeted in heaven by his elder sisters - Elizabeth Kelly Lemke and Barbara Kelly Alexy, as well as his mother and father.

Beloved husband of nearly 57 years to Jerrian Gelbert Kelly, and father of Brian Lloyd Kelly, Timothy Paul Kelly, Jeannie Kelly Falvey, Amanda Kelly Stanley, and Rebecca Kelly Boardman, “Pop” was larger than life, filling any room he entered with his presence, his sense of humor, and his stories of his hometown of Macungie, PA. As a chemical salesman, Richard crisscrossed the country and could tell you where to sleep, eat, and get a good drink in any town in America. He moved his family to Denton, TX in 1976, where the Kelly’s flourished. From having a Christmas tree lot that first year in his front yard to his last wild card trip to Vegas in summer of 2011 (where he paid cash for an old Lincoln Towncar with over 200k miles on it, dubbing it “The Beast”, and then driving it all the way home!), Dad always experienced life to the fullest. Like his stories, he went from flush to bust and back again, and he overcame a host of illnesses throughout his 80 years – even beating cancer to buy another precious year with his devoted family. When cancer proved too much for his weakened body, he went on his terms with no surrender, but rather with a conscious decision to abandon this shell and set off on a new adventure. He is survived by his wife, his children, and a host of grandchildren, with one great-grandchild due at Thanksgiving. Dad was called “The King of All Pop Pops” – and so he shall remain, for all time.

In lieu of flowers Memorials can be made to: M.D. Anderson’s Children’s Cancer Hospital, or to the American Alzheimer’s Association.