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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Dr. Ronald L. Kelsey
Ronald L.
Kelsey
Dec 9, 1934 — Sep 25, 2016
Dr. Ronald L. Kelsey's Obituary
Dr. Ronald Leon Kelsey, 81, passed away quietly at his Fredericksburg, Virginia home surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, September 25, 2016, ending his courageous battle with cancer.
Dr. Kelsey was born December 9, 1934 in Cherry Grove, WV and was the son of the late Charles T. and Nola Evelyne Bennett Kelsey.
Dr. Kelsey spent his childhood in Cherry Grove and graduated from Circleville High School in 1951. He joined the Army at the age of 17 and volunteered to serve in Korea with the 25th Infantry and the third Infantry Division during the war. While in Korea, he obtained the rank of SFC. He participated in the Korean campaign and was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, plus the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Korean Service Medal and numerous citations for his service.
After graduating from Northern Illinois University, he attended the University of Illinois Medical School, graduating with honors. His medical internship was completed at St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, Indiana, before completing a pathology residency at Illinois Masonic Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
After moving his family to Fredericksburg in 1977, Dr. Kelsey found it a pleasure to work as a Pathologist at Mary Washington Hospital for 30 years. He served as Chairman of the Department of Pathology, a term as President of the medical staff, on numerous committees, and many years with the Mary Washington Hospital Board as well as the Mary Washington Hospital Foundation Board. He was grateful to all of his colleagues that he worked with throughout the years, and found great pleasure in working with the laboratory staff.
Although Dr. Kelsey enjoyed his medical career, those who knew him well understood his love for West Virginia. Dr. Kelsey was an avid sportsman and farmer and found much pleasure in life when being in the West Virginia mountains where he and his wife, Lana, established a family farm and hosted many Kelsey family reunions and vacation weekends with friends.
Survivors include -
His wife of 47 years -
Lana Short Kelsey
Three sons -
Ronald Leon Kelsey, Jr. of Raleigh, NC
Robert Gustave Kelsey of Fredericksburg, VA
Ryan Jay Kelsey of Raleigh, NC
One daughter -
Jennifer Lee DuPuy (Dudley) of Fredericksburg, VA
Four grandchildren -
Christopher Tyler VonSzilassy, Callie Grace Morris, Kelsey Ann DuPuy and Carter Dudley DuPuy
Three brothers -
Jarel R. Kelsey (Rhonda) of King George, VA
Roger B. Kelsey (JoAnn) of Latrobe, PA
and Dr. Kenneth L. Kelsey (Diane) of Las Vegas, NV
And many nieces and nephews and cousins
In addition to his parents, he was preceded by his brothers, Charles R. Kelsey, Jr. and MSGT Richard T. Kelsey USAR and sisters, Doris Lee Kaminski and Avonelle M. Anderson.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, October 1 at Cherry Grove Baptist Church, Cherry Grove, WV with Rev. Robert Hershberger officiating.
Interment will follow in North Fork Memorial Cemetery at Riverton, West Virginia with military graveside services conducted by members of the Pendleton County Veterans Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to the Fredericksburg Fire and Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 444, Fredericksburg, WV 22401; North Fork Rescue Squad, Attn: Marian Hedrick, P. O. Box 8, Seneca Rocks, WV 26884 or the Circleville Volunteer Fire Dept., Attn: Carl Warner, P. O. Box 29, Circleville, WV 26804.
Dr. Kelsey was born December 9, 1934 in Cherry Grove, WV and was the son of the late Charles T. and Nola Evelyne Bennett Kelsey.
Dr. Kelsey spent his childhood in Cherry Grove and graduated from Circleville High School in 1951. He joined the Army at the age of 17 and volunteered to serve in Korea with the 25th Infantry and the third Infantry Division during the war. While in Korea, he obtained the rank of SFC. He participated in the Korean campaign and was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, plus the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Korean Service Medal and numerous citations for his service.
After graduating from Northern Illinois University, he attended the University of Illinois Medical School, graduating with honors. His medical internship was completed at St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, Indiana, before completing a pathology residency at Illinois Masonic Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
After moving his family to Fredericksburg in 1977, Dr. Kelsey found it a pleasure to work as a Pathologist at Mary Washington Hospital for 30 years. He served as Chairman of the Department of Pathology, a term as President of the medical staff, on numerous committees, and many years with the Mary Washington Hospital Board as well as the Mary Washington Hospital Foundation Board. He was grateful to all of his colleagues that he worked with throughout the years, and found great pleasure in working with the laboratory staff.
Although Dr. Kelsey enjoyed his medical career, those who knew him well understood his love for West Virginia. Dr. Kelsey was an avid sportsman and farmer and found much pleasure in life when being in the West Virginia mountains where he and his wife, Lana, established a family farm and hosted many Kelsey family reunions and vacation weekends with friends.
Survivors include -
His wife of 47 years -
Lana Short Kelsey
Three sons -
Ronald Leon Kelsey, Jr. of Raleigh, NC
Robert Gustave Kelsey of Fredericksburg, VA
Ryan Jay Kelsey of Raleigh, NC
One daughter -
Jennifer Lee DuPuy (Dudley) of Fredericksburg, VA
Four grandchildren -
Christopher Tyler VonSzilassy, Callie Grace Morris, Kelsey Ann DuPuy and Carter Dudley DuPuy
Three brothers -
Jarel R. Kelsey (Rhonda) of King George, VA
Roger B. Kelsey (JoAnn) of Latrobe, PA
and Dr. Kenneth L. Kelsey (Diane) of Las Vegas, NV
And many nieces and nephews and cousins
In addition to his parents, he was preceded by his brothers, Charles R. Kelsey, Jr. and MSGT Richard T. Kelsey USAR and sisters, Doris Lee Kaminski and Avonelle M. Anderson.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, October 1 at Cherry Grove Baptist Church, Cherry Grove, WV with Rev. Robert Hershberger officiating.
Interment will follow in North Fork Memorial Cemetery at Riverton, West Virginia with military graveside services conducted by members of the Pendleton County Veterans Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to the Fredericksburg Fire and Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 444, Fredericksburg, WV 22401; North Fork Rescue Squad, Attn: Marian Hedrick, P. O. Box 8, Seneca Rocks, WV 26884 or the Circleville Volunteer Fire Dept., Attn: Carl Warner, P. O. Box 29, Circleville, WV 26804.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
Funeral Services for Dr. Ronald L. Kelsey
Funeral Service
October
1
Saturday
Starts at 11:00 am
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