Lt. Col. (ret.) Joseph Donald “Don” Kelly, passed away peacefully at the age of 82, on Oct. 28, 2017. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, father-in-law and uncle. His calm demeanor and sweet smile will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Don was born Nov. 28, 1934, in Rabun Gap to Frank Ray Kelly and Elizabeth Mize Kelly. He graduated from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in 1952 and later served on the board of trustees. He graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1957, where he was an active member of Lamba Chi Alpha Fraternity. He later returned to Georgia Tech and obtained a master’s degree.
He served 20 years in the U.S. Army around the world including Washington, D.C., Korea, Germany, Vietnam and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his career, he received numerous accolades including the Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star Medal, The Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
After retirement from the Army, Don worked with Parsons, Brinkerhoff, and Tudor engineering consulting firm in Atlanta until his retirement in 2001.
He is survived by, his wife and soulmate of sixty wonderful years, Terressa “Terre” Kelly; daughter, Lisa Kelly Chartrand; sons, Mark Joseph Kelly and Dr. Scott Alan Kelly; grandchildren, Jordan Chartrand Phillips, Taylor Chartrand, Christian Chartrand, Brett Chartrand, Caelyn Kelly, and Elizabeth Kelly; great grandchildren, Ruby and Leela Phillips.
Funeral services were conducted at H.M. Patterson & Son Canton Hill Chapel on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. A committal service was held at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017, with full military honors.
A special thank you to Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care, and Fountainview Center for Alzheimer’s Disease staff for their unwavering compassion and support.
The Clayton Tribune, Nov. 9, 2017