Major General (Ret.) James L. Kelly, age 84, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at his home.
Jim was born on July 30, 1929 in Patchogue, New York to Col. Henry E. Kelly and Helen L. Kelly. He proudly served his country as an Army officer for more than 30 years. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1950 following graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served with aviation engineer units during the Korean War, with engineer troop units in Germany, and as an Assistant Professor at West Point. He commanded the 577th Engineer Battalion and served as Executive Officer, 45th Engineer Group in the Republic of Vietnam.
Later, he served in the Office of the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, as Executive to the Secretary of the Army, Commander of the 2nd Engineer Group in the Republic of Korea and Deputy Director of Civil Works, Office of the Chief of Engineers. His final military assignment was as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Engineer Center at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Following retirement from the Army in 1980, General Kelly moved to Charlotte where he worked for J. A. Jones Construction. In 1999, Jim and his wife Patti made the fortuitous decision to move to The Cypress, where they have been surrounded by many friends and served by a wonderful staff.
In addition to a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy, General Kelly also received an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and an M.S. degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. He was a graduate of the U.S. Army Engineer School, the Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College and the National War College.
Jim was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a man of great character whose life embodied the values of "Duty, Honor, Country". He was a devout Catholic of unwavering faith. He served his parish and the Charlotte community through the St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as many other organizations by performing countless acts of quiet charity.
Jim was a fierce competitor on the tennis court for most of his life and was formerly President of Olde Providence Tennis and Racquet Club. In his later years, he re-connected with the game of golf, which as the father of eight children, he had little time for as a younger man.
In addition to his wife of sixty years, Patti, General Kelly is survived by his children: MSG (Ret) James L. Kelly, Jr. (Jill), Springfield, Virginia; Kate Midden, Melbourne, Florida; John C. Kelly (Anne), Wilton, Connecticut; Patrick E. Kelly (Kathy-Line), Charlotte, North Carolina; Col. (Ret.) Paul W. Kelly (Vicky), Waynesville, Missouri; Stephen P. Kelly (Lisa), Charlotte, North Carolina; Col. Thomas L. Kelly, Columbia, South Carolina; Shannon Kelly, Boston, Massachusetts; 13 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Col. (Ret.) Henry E. Kelly, Jr. (Patricia), Melbourne, Florida.
General Kelly was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Eileen DeLuca.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Jim's name be directed to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 or a charity of the donor's choice.
A funeral mass with full military honors will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at 11 AM at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210. The family will greet friends after at The Cypress, 3442 Cypress Club Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210. Online condolences may be offered at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.
Jim was born on July 30, 1929 in Patchogue, New York to Col. Henry E. Kelly and Helen L. Kelly. He proudly served his country as an Army officer for more than 30 years. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1950 following graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served with aviation engineer units during the Korean War, with engineer troop units in Germany, and as an Assistant Professor at West Point. He commanded the 577th Engineer Battalion and served as Executive Officer, 45th Engineer Group in the Republic of Vietnam.
Later, he served in the Office of the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, as Executive to the Secretary of the Army, Commander of the 2nd Engineer Group in the Republic of Korea and Deputy Director of Civil Works, Office of the Chief of Engineers. His final military assignment was as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Engineer Center at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Following retirement from the Army in 1980, General Kelly moved to Charlotte where he worked for J. A. Jones Construction. In 1999, Jim and his wife Patti made the fortuitous decision to move to The Cypress, where they have been surrounded by many friends and served by a wonderful staff.
In addition to a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy, General Kelly also received an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and an M.S. degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. He was a graduate of the U.S. Army Engineer School, the Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College and the National War College.
Jim was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a man of great character whose life embodied the values of "Duty, Honor, Country". He was a devout Catholic of unwavering faith. He served his parish and the Charlotte community through the St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as many other organizations by performing countless acts of quiet charity.
Jim was a fierce competitor on the tennis court for most of his life and was formerly President of Olde Providence Tennis and Racquet Club. In his later years, he re-connected with the game of golf, which as the father of eight children, he had little time for as a younger man.
In addition to his wife of sixty years, Patti, General Kelly is survived by his children: MSG (Ret) James L. Kelly, Jr. (Jill), Springfield, Virginia; Kate Midden, Melbourne, Florida; John C. Kelly (Anne), Wilton, Connecticut; Patrick E. Kelly (Kathy-Line), Charlotte, North Carolina; Col. (Ret.) Paul W. Kelly (Vicky), Waynesville, Missouri; Stephen P. Kelly (Lisa), Charlotte, North Carolina; Col. Thomas L. Kelly, Columbia, South Carolina; Shannon Kelly, Boston, Massachusetts; 13 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Col. (Ret.) Henry E. Kelly, Jr. (Patricia), Melbourne, Florida.
General Kelly was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Eileen DeLuca.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Jim's name be directed to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 or a charity of the donor's choice.
A funeral mass with full military honors will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at 11 AM at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210. The family will greet friends after at The Cypress, 3442 Cypress Club Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210. Online condolences may be offered at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.
Major General (Ret.) James L. Kelly, age 84, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at his home.
Jim was born on July 30, 1929 in Patchogue, New York to Col. Henry E. Kelly and Helen L. Kelly. He proudly served his country as an Army officer for more than 30 years. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1950 following graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served with aviation engineer units during the Korean War, with engineer troop units in Germany, and as an Assistant Professor at West Point. He commanded the 577th Engineer Battalion and served as Executive Officer, 45th Engineer Group in the Republic of Vietnam.
Later, he served in the Office of the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, as Executive to the Secretary of the Army, Commander of the 2nd Engineer Group in the Republic of Korea and Deputy Director of Civil Works, Office of the Chief of Engineers. His final military assignment was as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Engineer Center at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Following retirement from the Army in 1980, General Kelly moved to Charlotte where he worked for J. A. Jones Construction. In 1999, Jim and his wife Patti made the fortuitous decision to move to The Cypress, where they have been surrounded by many friends and served by a wonderful staff.
In addition to a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy, General Kelly also received an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and an M.S. degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. He was a graduate of the U.S. Army Engineer School, the Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College and the National War College.
Jim was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a man of great character whose life embodied the values of "Duty, Honor, Country". He was a devout Catholic of unwavering faith. He served his parish and the Charlotte community through the St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as many other organizations by performing countless acts of quiet charity.
Jim was a fierce competitor on the tennis court for most of his life and was formerly President of Olde Providence Tennis and Racquet Club. In his later years, he re-connected with the game of golf, which as the father of eight children, he had little time for as a younger man.
In addition to his wife of sixty years, Patti, General Kelly is survived by his children: MSG (Ret) James L. Kelly, Jr. (Jill), Springfield, Virginia; Kate Midden, Melbourne, Florida; John C. Kelly (Anne), Wilton, Connecticut; Patrick E. Kelly (Kathy-Line), Charlotte, North Carolina; Col. (Ret.) Paul W. Kelly (Vicky), Waynesville, Missouri; Stephen P. Kelly (Lisa), Charlotte, North Carolina; Col. Thomas L. Kelly, Columbia, South Carolina; Shannon Kelly, Boston, Massachusetts; 13 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Col. (Ret.) Henry E. Kelly, Jr. (Patricia), Melbourne, Florida.
General Kelly was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Eileen DeLuca.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Jim's name be directed to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 or a charity of the donor's choice.
A funeral mass with full military honors will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at 11 AM at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210. The family will greet friends after at The Cypress, 3442 Cypress Club Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210. Online condolences may be offered at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.
Jim was born on July 30, 1929 in Patchogue, New York to Col. Henry E. Kelly and Helen L. Kelly. He proudly served his country as an Army officer for more than 30 years. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1950 following graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served with aviation engineer units during the Korean War, with engineer troop units in Germany, and as an Assistant Professor at West Point. He commanded the 577th Engineer Battalion and served as Executive Officer, 45th Engineer Group in the Republic of Vietnam.
Later, he served in the Office of the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, as Executive to the Secretary of the Army, Commander of the 2nd Engineer Group in the Republic of Korea and Deputy Director of Civil Works, Office of the Chief of Engineers. His final military assignment was as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Engineer Center at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Following retirement from the Army in 1980, General Kelly moved to Charlotte where he worked for J. A. Jones Construction. In 1999, Jim and his wife Patti made the fortuitous decision to move to The Cypress, where they have been surrounded by many friends and served by a wonderful staff.
In addition to a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy, General Kelly also received an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and an M.S. degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. He was a graduate of the U.S. Army Engineer School, the Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College and the National War College.
Jim was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a man of great character whose life embodied the values of "Duty, Honor, Country". He was a devout Catholic of unwavering faith. He served his parish and the Charlotte community through the St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as many other organizations by performing countless acts of quiet charity.
Jim was a fierce competitor on the tennis court for most of his life and was formerly President of Olde Providence Tennis and Racquet Club. In his later years, he re-connected with the game of golf, which as the father of eight children, he had little time for as a younger man.
In addition to his wife of sixty years, Patti, General Kelly is survived by his children: MSG (Ret) James L. Kelly, Jr. (Jill), Springfield, Virginia; Kate Midden, Melbourne, Florida; John C. Kelly (Anne), Wilton, Connecticut; Patrick E. Kelly (Kathy-Line), Charlotte, North Carolina; Col. (Ret.) Paul W. Kelly (Vicky), Waynesville, Missouri; Stephen P. Kelly (Lisa), Charlotte, North Carolina; Col. Thomas L. Kelly, Columbia, South Carolina; Shannon Kelly, Boston, Massachusetts; 13 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Col. (Ret.) Henry E. Kelly, Jr. (Patricia), Melbourne, Florida.
General Kelly was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Eileen DeLuca.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Jim's name be directed to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 or a charity of the donor's choice.
A funeral mass with full military honors will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at 11 AM at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210. The family will greet friends after at The Cypress, 3442 Cypress Club Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210. Online condolences may be offered at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.
