John Francis James Kelly, retired Marine

Lt. Col. John Francis James Kelly, USMC (Ret.) of Foneswood, Va., died Friday, April 20, 2012, in Lewes surrounded by his immediate family. He was born Jan. 4, 1928, in Jersey City, N.J., and upon completion of high school enlisted in the Marine Corps near the end of World War II. Early in his career, Lt. Col. Kelly served as a drill instructor at Marine Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. 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 as 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 wife Cindie of Fredericksburg, Va., his son Daniel and wife Bobbi Jo of New Bern, N.C., and son David of Washington D.C.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife Jeanette, and his son, Father Michael Kelly.

The family will receive friends at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Service in Fredericksburg, Va., from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 26, with a Mass at 7:45 a.m., Friday, April 27, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fredericksburg, followed by interment in Quantico National Cemetery. In lieu of gifts and flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org in the name of Lt. Col. John Kelly, USMC (Ret.).