Born: March 13, 1938 - Deceased: 20191210
Dave Kelly passed away on December 10, 2019 after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was born on March 13, 1938 in East St. Louis, IL to Walter C. Kelly and Marie (Verbeck) Kelly. He graduated from East Side High School in the class of June, 1955. He was a Methodist.
Dave was very patriotic and served four years active duty in the US Navy and two years in US Marine Corps reserve. After graduation from college, he was commissioned as a line officer in the Naval Reserve, finishing his military service as a full Lieutenant. He received his BS in Chemistry from the University of Florida in 1962 and worked as a chemist for DuPont and as Director of Carpet Research for Barwick Industries. He started his own business in Dalton, GA in 1976, Professional Chemical and Color where he specialized in difficult to dye fibers. He received eleven patents.
While in Dalton, Dave was active in the Dalton Little Theater as actor, director and playwright. He served as president of the DLT during the 1984-85 season. He also wrote and directed the annual Straw Hat Follies from 1987-90. After retirement, Dave wrote three novels – including The Bleak December, a fictionized account of the Winecoff Hotel fire of 1947.
He was preceded in death by his:
- Parents: Walter and Marie, nee Verbeck, Kelly
- Brothers
- Walter C. Kelly, Jr.
- Robert E. Walton
He is survived by his:
- Sons
- Dean Kelly of Mobile, AL
- Dave Kelly of Atlanta
- Three grandsons
- Dean Kelly, Jr.
- Grant Kelly
- Reid Kelly
- Very special friend: Joyce Goff
Visitation: Visitation from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at Kurrus Funeral Home, with Robert Swickard officiating. Interment will follow at Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, IL.
2 Comments
To the family of Dave Kelly, he and I were friends from way back in ESTLouis , in the 1950’s, when we danced in the morning at the high school as partners and we never stopped the friendship until near the end. Dave and I talked just a week before his death and recalled our olden days ‘the best years’ ever. He will be sorely missed, as a friend and writer. May Dave find peace with God and his family also find peace, condolences especially to Joyce, whom I had never met but heard so much about and to his family.
Sending much love to my now gone friend,
Patricia Lawson Goodwin and husband Michael Goodwin
To Dave and Dean and your families, please accept my condolences. It was a pleasure to work with Dave for so many years as an employee, all the way back to 1979, and then in recent years to reconnect with him through his writing. He is remembered fondly in Dalton, and leaves some great memories in this community. I wish you all peace and comfort at this time. Please let me know if I can be of any help.