Thomas R. Kelley, Colonel, USAF (Retired)
April 10, 1935 – May 02, 2013

Virginia Beach – Colonel Thomas Reynolds Kelley, United States Air Force (Retired), passed away on May 2, 2013.

Born in Cambridge, Ma, in 1935 to Thomas and Edna Kelley, Tom completed his undergraduate degree at Stanford University in 1957. He earned Master’s degrees from Auburn University, and Boston University. After graduation, Tom was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force and attended pilot training in Malden, Missouri. Col. Kelley served in Morocco, Italy, North Dakota, Texas, Alabama, Belgium, Washington DC, and Virginia. He was a command pilot with over four thousand flying hours in jets and helicopters and served two tours in Vietnam with 199 combat and rescue missions as a helicopter pilot. While in the Air Force he attended Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College. Col. Kelley was decorated with the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and several Air Medals. He concluded his military career as Professor of Air Science at the University of Virginia and after his retirement, he moved to Virginia Beach and taught Junior ROTC at Indian River High School.

Tom’s life was focused on his family. He was a wonderful husband to Antonia, and a terrific father to Anne Marie, John, and Paul. He took great pride and joy in his granddaughters Colleen, Caitlin, Elizabeth, Megan, and Emily. Mourning his loss are also his children-in-law, Roland Fenton, Jr., Janet Kelley, and Majda Larsen, as well as his sister Diane Marrs with her husband Richard and their children, and his brothers-in-law, Carlo Libondi and Lorenzo Libondi, with their families.

Tom took great joy in vacationing and gathering with his family. Tom loved going to the beach with his grandchildren, eating New England Fried Clams, golfing with his sons, gardening, telling everyone what to do, and above all else he loved sharing his life with Antonia. He will be sorely missed by all his family and friends.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated in Saint Nicholas Catholic Church on Tuesday May 7, 2013, at 11:30 a.m., with viewing two hours before Mass. Burial will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

The family requests that donations be made to cancer-related charities in lieu of flowers. H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Laskin Road Chapel is handling arrangements and online condolences may be made to hdoliver.com

Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

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Capt. Kelley served tours in the Vietnam War as a HH-43B/F pilot with Det. 2 (Provisional), PARC, in the 1964-1965-time frame.