Sr. US Navy Ret. Captain Ronald T. Kelly

Captain Ronald T. Kelly, Sr. US Navy, 97, of Virginia Beach, Virginia passed away peacefully on September 29, 2025. He was born on February 20, 1928 in Montague City, Massachusetts to the late Thomas Kelly and Helen (Milkey) Kelly.

Ron met and married the love of his life, the late Mary Margaret Kelly (Peggy) in Norfolk, Virginia and spent 65 years together living throughout the United States and raising their family. Ron is survived by his loving son, Ronald Kelly, Jr. (Benita) and daughters Catherine Wright and Margaret Wingfield (Steve). He also leaves behind three devoted grandchildren, Anthony Wright, Kelly RaeWright-Grybko (Rick) and Kimberly Edwards (Sean) along with one great granddaughter Maeve Edwards. Ron is survived by his sister Marilyn Kelly and was predeceased by sisters Nancy Armstrong and Diane Martin.

Ron grew up in Montague City, Massachusetts where he graduated from high school. He went on to enlist in the US Army but while still in the first year of ROTC at Norwich Academy in Vermont he received an appointment to the US Naval Academy. While at the Academy, Ron participated in both the glee club and sailing team. He proudly graduated with the class of 1950 and went on to lead a storied military career spanning 30 plus years. He sailed with several of his newly graduated classmates on a USNA schooner to Bermuda and upon arrival to shore they learned of the conflict in Korea, requiring an immediate return trip to report for duty.

Ron served on several ships that sailed throughout the world including the newly minted USS Sample as both the commissioning and commanding officer and as the commanding officer of the USS Newport News, the last of the heavy battle cruisers. During his career, he qualified as a nuclear engineer as part of the first group that developed the A1W Prototype nuclear reactor in Idaho. He served on the original crew on the USS Long Beach, the world's first nuclear-powered surface combatant. In addition, Ron served in Saigon, Vietnam as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations COMNAVFORV and as both the Senior Advisor to the South Vietnamese Navy (VNN) Headquarters Operations Bloc and the VNN Deputy CNO for Sea Operations.

Included among the many medals Ron was authorized to wear were the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Bronze Star.

After Navy life, Ron was selected to be a senior executive for the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). Located in Atlanta, GA, this non-profit organization helped lead the way for nuclear power operations around the globe to develop international safety standards and self-regulations in a collaborative fashion. Given the nature of the INPO work, this afforded the opportunity for world travel over and above the many places he had already experienced while serving in the Navy.

Ron and Peggy settled permanently in Virginia Beach after his retirement from INPO. He became active in his community as a member of the Witchduck Civic League and an active golfer who participated in multiple senior golf leagues. He dearly loved his family, especially his grandchildren and first and only great-grandchild. He was a wealth of knowledge, always enjoyed a good debate and was a sound resource for sage advice on just about anything.

The family would like to express heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful caregivers on Team Kelly. Their compassion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to Ron's comfort and care had an immeasurable impact on the entire family.

Visitation and a reception to remember Ron will be held on November 9th between the hours of 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. at the Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Bayside Chapel. He will be laid to rest with military honors in a ceremony at the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk, Virginia on November 10th at 11:00 a.m.

As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, the National Kidney Foundation or the charity of your choice.

Funeral Services are under the direction of Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Bayside Chapel. Condolences may be sent to www.hollomon-brown.com.