J. Dick Kelley ’53

J. Dick Kelley ’53, of Hartsville, S.C., died Sept. 17. Kelley was born March 23, 1931, in Florence, S.C., the son of the late Henrietta Elizabeth Gandy and Orlando Dickson Kelley, Jr. He excelled in tennis as a youth. He was a 1953 graduate of Davidson, where he was named to the national O.D.K. leadership fraternity, co-captained the Wildcats football team, and was president of and represented S.A.E. social fraternity on the Pan-Hellenic Council. He was awarded the best company commander medal at Davidson. He served in the U.S. Infantry at Ft. Benning, Ga., and Ft. Bliss, Tex., honorably discharged as first lieutenant in 1955. His love of singing motivated him to participate in his church choirs from the age of 12 years until 2006, as well as several civic choruses. Kelley was baptized at Hartsville First Baptist Church, later moving his membership to the Cheraw First Presbyterian Church, then Hartsville First Presbyterian Church. He taught adult and youth Sunday school and Bible school, and was ordained as both deacon and elder. Kelley was awarded the Boy Scouts of America Order of the Arrow as an adult. He was an avid fisherman and boater, a former member of Hartsville Cotillion, Second Thursday, and Outdoor Club. He served on Trees for Tomorrow and the Cargill Corridor civic committees, and volunteered for Christmas in April and HIM. He fulfilled the dream of becoming an airplane pilot when he soloed on June 11, 1980. After retiring from Sonoco Products Co. with 25 years service, he enjoyed several pleasant years in real estate and working for the State of South Carolina. Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Barbara “Bobbie” Kirkley Kelley, 119 Erwin Rd., Hartsville, SC 29550; two sons, James Randy (Susan R. Kelley) and Glen Dickson (Cathy O. Kelley); one daughter, Barbara Kelley Griffeth ’82 (Jack Thurman Griffeth ’79); grandchildren, Jamie Elizabeth Kelley, Bryan Patrick Kelley (Sarah), Catherine “Erin” Kelley Carnes (Jason), Adam Dickson Kelley (Amanda), Will Dickson Griffeth, Kirkley Ann Griffeth, and Jackson Kelley Griffeth; three great-grandchildren, John Dickson and Henry Hollen Kelley, and Ella Catherine Carnes; one sister, LuBeth Kelley Scott (David); two nephews, Kevin and Jonathon Sherwood; his aunts, Mrs. James Gandy and Mrs. Claude Gandy; two sisters-in-law, Sue Kirkley Arledge and Ruth K. Ingram Jackson; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.