Obituary: Lt. Col. John Francis James Kelly

Lt. Co.l John Francis James Kelly, Lt. Col. USMC (ret) of Foneswood, Virginia, died April 20, 2012, in Lewes, DE surrounded by his immediate family. He was born Jan. 4, 1928, in Jersey City, NJ, and upon completion of high school enlisted in the Marine Corps near the end of WWII. Early in his career Lt. Col. Kelly served as a drill instructor at Marine Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC. As a platoon sergeant during the Korean War he was twice wounded and received a battlefield commission. Later he served three tours in Vietnam, retiring in 1974 a lieutenant colonel after 30 years of service.  

After retirement from the Marine Corps, Lt. Col. Kelly went on to be a systems analyst and form his own consulting company Aberdeene Group Ltd, and served as a deputy sheriff for Westmorland County Virginia Sheriff’s Department. He is survived by his wife Margaret, his son Matthew and daughter in law Cindie of Fredericksburg, his son, Daniel and daughter in law Bobbi Jo of New Bern, NC, and son David of Washington, D.C. Lt. Col. Kelly also had eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife Jeanette, and his son Father Michel Kelly. 

A viewing will be held at Mullins and Thompson Funeral home in Fredericksburg, from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday April 26 with a Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fredericksburg on Friday April 27 followed by internment at the Quantico National Cemetery.  In lieu of gifts and flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in the name of Lt. Col. John Kelly.