Robert John Kelly

MYRTLE BEACH | Robert John Kelly, 89, husband of Mary Lee Burriss Kelly, died Saturday, August 15, 2009 at Covenant Towers in Myrtle Beach.

Known by his many friends over the years as Bob, he was born April 16, 1920 in Springfield, Ohio, a son of the late James S. Kelly and Margaret Riley Kelly. He was a graduate of Springfield Central Catholic High School and The Ohio State University with a B.S. degree in Business Administration, specializing in Personnel Management.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan E. Kelly; and a brother, James Kelly.

Bob Kelly was a veteran of World War II, having served as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army in the European Theater and later in the Army of Occupation, stationed in Vienna, at the Four Powers Headquarters, achieving the rank of captain while in active service. He continued in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1953, retiring with the rank of major.

Following his military service overseas, he had a long and successful business career with the Mead Corporation, a leading manufacturer of paper and paper products, serving in a number of managerial and executive positions in various locations, including as vice president of Human Resources at Mead Containers in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later as director of Human Resources of the Mead Corporation in Dayton, Ohio. He resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, for many years, retiring to Garden City, in 1982. He was a parishioner of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach in the years prior to his death.

Survivors in addition to his wife; are one daughter, Margaret A. Grayson and her husband, Dennis, of Rocklin, California; three sons, Richard R. Kelly and his wife, Carol, of Boston, Massachusetts, Gerald E. Kelly and his wife, Beverly, of Loveland, Ohio, and David C. Kelly and his wife, Anne, of Edgewood, Kentucky; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A visitation reception will be held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at Covenant Towers. Friends are also invited to join the family for Mass at 9 a.m. that morning at St. Andrew Catholic Church. A funeral Mass, the burial and a celebration of the life of Mr. Kelly will be held at a later date in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Please sign a guest book at www.msfh.net and at TheSunNews.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to either the National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 NW 9th Ave., Bob Hope Rd., Miami, FL 33136-1494 or to St. Andrew Catholic Church, 503 37th Ave. N., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.

McMillan-Small Funeral Home is handling the arrangements locally.