James Joseph Kelly

June 1, 1932 – August 13, 2020

James "Jim" Kelly, born June 1, 1932, passed away peacefully in his home on August 13, 2020 in Clermont, Florida.

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Jim spent most of his life in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area before retiring and moving to Crystal River, Florida, in 1993.  In 2017, he moved into assisted living in Clermont, Florida.  Jim worked for Ampex Corporation in Bethesda, Maryland, as an electrical engineer for 35 years and retired in 1993.  He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Homosassa, Florida, in retirement.  Jim is survived by his wife, Madeline, of 65 years and 3 children Daniel, Laura, and Lisa.  He was the grandfather of 5 grandchildren, Brigette, Kevin, Caitlin, Hannah, and Catherine, and a great-grandfather to 6 children.

A man of great character with a positive, outgoing attitude, Jim always looked at life as "the great adventure".  He enjoyed traveling around the world and was particularly fond of exploring the U.S. National Parks.  With a keen intellect, he relished learning.  He is celebrated for his captivating storytelling, which often included insights and lessons learned in life.  He loved history, particularly military history, and enjoyed boating and photography.

To celebrate the memory of Jim Kelly, in lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations can be made to The National Park Foundation at https://give.nationalparks.org/

A short military service is being planned at Bushnell National Cemetery; date to be determined.