David E. Kelly

  David E. Kelly died peacefully at his home in Virginia Beach on August 30, 2023.  He was born in Philadelphia on November 9, 1935 to Marvin Lyle Kelly (d. 9-30-46) and Margaret (Guerra) Kelly (d. 8-26-92).  David was predeceased by his brother Richard J. Wheelock.  Surviving family members include his wife, Barbara (Corby) Kelly, his daughter Andrea (Kelly) Dickerson (husband Raymond Dickerson), and his sister Jacqueline (Kelly) Sozio.  David’s grandchildren include: Wesley Dickerson (wife Dao), Camille (Dickerson) Boutchyard (husband Brandon), and David Francis Dickerson.  His great grandchildren include Sebastian Boutchyard and Alessandra Dickerson.

  As a young boy David lived in Quakertown, PA with his parents and sister.  After his father’s early death he attended the Milton Hershey Boarding School.  There he excelled in Academics and Wrestling receiving numerous college scholarships.  He attended Lehigh, Temple, and George Washington Universities studying advanced Mathematics and Chemistry.  He was invited to join MENSA for his extraordinarily high IQ.  He was a talented pianist and his family loved his beautiful version of Doctor Zhivago – Lara’s Theme.  His kindness, humor, and brilliance will be missed greatly by all.

  On September 4, 1955 he married his sweetheart for life, Barbara Corby Kelly.  They were married for 68 years short of 5 days.  While he served in the army testing with the plague at Walter Reed Medical they lived in Washington, D.C.  During the earlier years of their marriage they lived in NJ (Cherry Hill, Cinnaminson, and W. Long Branch) and PA (East Norriton, and W. Long Branch) while he worked as a Software Engineer.  After retiring he lived in California, Florida, and Virginia.  He loved to travel for work (Munich) or pleasure with Barbara and they enjoyed 38 cruises together in addition to other extensive international travel.

  A Funeral Mass will be held at the Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Virginia Beach on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. followed by his burial at the Princess Anne Memorial Park also in Virginia Beach.  In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society.