Kelly, William J.
Birth
William J. Kelly was born November 7, 1898, in New York City, son of the late William and Catherine Virgoris Kelly.
Education
Military
Mr. Kelly was a Veteran of WW I serving In the U.S. Army.
He participated in many battles including Champagne Mane Aisne-Marne, St. Minlel, Meuse- Argonne and the Defensive Sector. He was wounded in action July 18, 1918 and received the purple heart along with the medal of valor, the silver star and the bronze star. He was a Charter member of and helped establish the Flushing Chapter of the Order of the Purple Heart and was instrumental in starting the Flushing VFW Drum and Bugle Corps. He has served as commander of the WW I Barracks of Albany, has held many posts in the National VFW and was very active in the local chapters of the VFW. He has spent over 17,000 hours in volunteer work at the Albany VA Medical Center and just last year received his 60-year member pin in the VFW.
Occupation
Marriage & Children
WIlliam J. Kelley married Ethel Borden, predeceased him in 1978.Their children were:
- William B Kelly of Westerlo
- Wilma Warner of East Berne, whose son was Chester W. Warner
- Ethel Davis of Beaver, Pa.
- Elizabeth Gibbs of Spartonburg, S.C.
- Patricia Kelly, pre-deceased him.
Death
William J. Kelly, 88, of Westerlo died April 18 (1987) at the Albany VA Medical Center.
Obituary
WILLIAM J. KELLY
William J. Kelly, 88, of Westerlo died April 18 (1987) at the Albany VA Medical Center. He was born November 7, 1898, in New York City, son of the late William and Catherine Virgoris Kelly. His wife, the former Ethel Borden, predeceased him In 1978.
He was a past member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 7 of Albany, a member of St John (he Baptist Church, Bethlehem Memorial VFW Pott 8185, the DA V Chapter 10 of Albany, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Empire State 448. Mr. Kelly was a Veteran of WW I serving In the U.S. Army.
He participated in many battles including Champagne Mane Aisne-Marne, St. Minlel, Meuse- Argonne and the Defensive Sector. He was wounded in action July 18, 1918 and received the purple heart along with the medal of valor, the silver star and the bronze star. He was a Charter member of and helped establish the Flushing Chapter of the Order of the Purple Heart and was instrumental in starting the Flushing VFW Drum and Bugle Corps. He has served as commander of the WW I Barracks of Albany, has held many posts in the National VFW and was very active in the local chapters of the VFW. He has spent over 17,000 hours in volunteer work at the Albany VA Medical Center and just last year received his 60-year member pin in the VFW.
Funeral service with the Rev. John Kelly of St. John the Baptist Church officiating was today from the Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville. Interment was in the Westerlo Rural Cemetery.
Surviving are a son, William Kelly of Westerlo; three daughters — Wilma Warner of East Berne, Ethel Davis of Beaver, Pa., and Elizabeth Gibbs of Spartonburg, S.C. A daughter, Patricia Kelly, pre-deceased him. Also surviving are 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Those who desire may contribute in his memory to the General Post Fund 2, c/o the Albany VA Medical
- Altamont Enterprise — April 16, 1987
Additional Media
William J Kelly from Social Security Death Index
Birth: 7 Nov 1898
Death: 13 Apr 1987
Facts
Person Full name: William J Kelly
Residence Last Residence: Westerlo, NY
Dormansville Man Celbrates 80th Birthday
William J. Kelly of Dormansville celebrated his 80th birthday last Saturday evening at Warner's Lake in East Berne. Attending the dinner party at Zwicklbauer's Hofbrau were three of his four daughters, Mrs. Ethel Davis of Beaver, Pa., Patricia Kelly of Albany and Mrs Wilma Warner of East Berne; and his son William Kelly Jr. of Dormansville. Also celebrating the occasion were many grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. They all know him as "Gramps." His eldest daughter, Mrs. Betty Gibbs, of Spartansburg, South Carolina and her children and grandson were unable to attend. They did, however wish "Gramps" a happy| 80th birthday by a thoughtful mail-o-gram which was read at the party by Betty's son Tim Fisher.
Mr. Kelly was born of Irish immigrant parents in New York City on election day, Nov. 7, 1898. | He grew up in the village of Essex on Lake Champlain. When he turned 17 years old, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served for about 7 years including WWI. After his discharge from the Army he and his wife, Ethel, began their family in Flushing, Long Island. Later they moved to Dormansville where they have lived for the past 45 years.
Presently Mr. Kelly is active in the VFW and WWI Vets. This summer he represented N.Y. State in the WWI national convention in Columbus, Ohio. He periodically visits his daughter, Betty in S.C., and has recently returned from a trip to Ireland with Jack and Ethel Davis.
Mr. Kelly plans to continue being active in his retirement years. He claims his goal is to reach the year 2000. He will have then lived in three different centuries. And with his determination, we all expect to see him make it!
- Altamont Enterprise - November 10, 1978
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