Rev. Dr. P. Thomas McKelvey

The Rev. Dr. P. Thomas McKelvey, 83 of Ocean Pines, MD passed into his heavenly home on March 3, 2026. Born in Youngstown, PA, Tom grew up in Latrobe, PA. He was the son of the late Richard and Henrietta McKelvey.

He was graduated from Latrobe High School, attended Bullis Preparatory School and then completed two successful years at the United States Navel Academy. During the second year there he met missionary Frank Laubach in a chapel service. He felt a call into the ministry and then transferred to W. VA. Wesleyan College to begin his journey to become a Methodist pastor. Upon graduation he enrolled in Wesley Seminary where he received the Master of Divinity degree and then a Doctor of Ministry from Lancaster Seminary.

His ministry as a United Methodist pastor was wonderfully meaningful to Tom. In addition to serving as a missionary to the Meha Indians in Mexico, taking a mission trip to Liberia West Africa, filling in as a temporary director of Camp Pecometh, and serving as conference Youth Director, Tom served as pastor of five United Methodist Churches.

He was associate youth pastor at Richardson Park DE church, associate at Grace United Methodist Church in Wilmington, DE, Tom then served Whatcoat United Methodist Church in Snow Hill, MD where he loved being involved with the Ecumenical Chi Rho Youth Group. Following, he was then appointed to the Salisbury District Superintendency. His final full-time service was Community Church at Ocean Pines where he ministered for 18 years. Upon retirement he served part time as minister of visitation at Christ United Methodist Church in Salisbury, MD.

In addition to church ministries Tom was active in community ministries. He always had a concern for youth and for affordable housing and for helping those in need. In that regard, he was the founding pastor of Urban Ministries which is still active in Salisbury, MD. He served as president of Interfaith Housing Development Corporation which built affordable housing on the shore. Two such units are The Lodges on Naylor Mill Road in Salisbury and Heath Manor in Snow Hill, MD. He was president of Show Hill Citizens for Decent Housing who built New Hope Village in Snow Hill. He led many Appalachia Service Projects with youth and adults and also hurricane relief repair projects in Mississippi and Texas. Tom also served on the board of Habitat For Humanity for several years.

He was honored by the Peninsula Delaware Conference with the Martin Luther King award and the Lowan Pitts award for his leadership in race relations. In 1985 Tom was the Citizen of the Year in Snow Hill for his youth leadership. Tom was an ordained United Methodist Minister for 58 years.

Tom is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Karen McKelvey; his devoted sons Scott McKelvey of Camden, DE and Tim McKelvey of Ocean Pines; grandchildren, Kyle McKelvey of Dundalk, MD, Tristen and Alyssa Roberts of Virginia Beach, VA and new great-granddaughter, Ella McKelvey of Dundalk. He is also survived by his nephew, Jeff McKelvey; nieces, Beth Bradley, Jennifer Westcott, and Jasmin Delbrugge; sisters-in-law, Nancy McKelvey and Jackie Kramer; brother-in-law, Jim Delbrugge.

In addition to his parents Tom was preceded in death by his brother, Dick McKelvey who was his role model, nephew, Zach Delbrugge; sister-in-law, Nancy Morse; brothers-in-law, Gordon Morse and Terry Kramer.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Community Church at Ocean Pines, 11227 Racetrack Road, Berlin, MD 21811 with a visitation at 10:00 AM. The Rev. Dale Brown and Rev. Dr. Bob Harris are officiating. Inurnment will be in The Garden of the Pines Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the churches Tom served.

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.bishophastingsfh.com