Rawson Kelham

Rawson Kelham 10/08/2011 After a long battle with diabetes, Rory Kelham lost the fight on Oct 8th at his home in the Napa Valley, he was 73. Beginning in 1971, Rory farmed in the prestigious Western Oakville Appellation, supplying fruit to wineries such as Robert Mondavi, Cakebread Cellars, and BV for Georges De La Tour. His farming practices employed the respected old world tradition, that fine wines are a product of the vineyard. Rory was a man of his words and compromised for nothing. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Susanna Kelham; son Bill Kelham and his wife Wendy and grandsons Travis and Daniel; daughter Evelyn Kelham; step sons Ronald and Hamilton Nicholsen. Also survived by, his sister Alexandra Phillips and her family - husband Robert Philips, daughters Alix and Katharine and son Bruce. He will be missed, but his vision and love for the wine industry will continue through Kelham Vineyards and Winery, run by Susanna, Ronald and Hamilton, and the construction company he started and ran with his son Bill, Kelham Construction.