Dorothy Bernice Kelley

DOROTHY BERNICE KELLEY 89, of Riverside, CA, passed away Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Dorothy was born March 31, 1920, in Fullerton CA to Clarence and Bernice Miles. They moved to Visalia to farm, her father's dream, but lost the farm in the start of the Great Depression. Various jobs later, they were back in Fullerton where Dorothy went to Fullerton City College enrolled in a pre-nursing course. She met her future husband and the love of her life while roller skating with some friends in Long Beach in 1938. Sidney Bruce Kelley (his friends called him Bruce) was 19, from Florida, in the Navy, and on shore leave from the USS Nevada. They corresponded for a year, then married August 12th, 1939. Dorothy had to give up her dream of going to nursing school. During WWII and the Korean War, the family moved around the country before settling in Riverside upon her husband's retirement from the Navy in 1956. By then they had 7 children. In 1962, Dorothy drove her daughter Nancy to Riverside City College to enroll her in the Nursing program, and decided to enroll too! Dorothy graduated from RCC in 1965. She was an R.N. at Riverside Community Hospital until her retirement in 1982. She was the 3rd generation of 5 generations of nurses. During retirement years they had several trips traveling in a camper around the U.S. and helping kids and grandkids until old age and diabetes slowed them down. Dorothy was also very active in the First Baptist Church. Mrs. Kelley was pre-deceased by her husband, Sidney Bruce Kelley, her son David, and her daughter Peggy. She is survived by her children Nancy Hanna, Sidney Kelley, Pat Katzenstein, Michael Kelley, Timothy Kelley, and by 13 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held Friday, October 2nd, 11:30 am, at the Riverside National Cemetery, staging area 3. The 1st Baptist Church, 5500 Alessandro Blvd, will hold a reception following.