Kelly

George J. Kelly Sr. died Thursday at his home. The Butler resident, a lifelong aviator, a successful car dealer and a loving father was 89.

Born May 2, 1918, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of Edward P. and Mary M. Semelsberger Kelly.

He was a graduate of Marion Parochial School and Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh. In 1936, he was a laborer for the General Motors Parts Division and later was the shipping department supervisor.

Mr. Kelly volunteered for the Air Force in 1942. Later that year, he enrolled in the Aviation Cadet Training Program at North Carolina State College.

It was at this point in his life, he realized his love of flying and soon after entered the Air Force Central Flight Instructors School — the "West Point of the Air." It was here where he graduated C.I.S., became a flight instructor for B-17 bombers and was undergoing training for B-29 heavy bombers when the war ended.

In 1945, he was released from active duty and became a parts and accessories analysis clerk and moved up the ranks quickly to district manager of Metro Pittsburgh. In less than nine years, he became a Chevrolet dealer in Verona, where he also was the president of the chamber of commerce.

In 1957, he moved to Butler with his wife, Patricia Ann McTighe of Squirrel Hill, and their four young children, when he purchased the Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership. He owned and successfully operated the dealership until his son, George Kelly Jr., took over in 1997.

He often said the best move he ever made in life was coming to Butler, where he enjoyed working, living and watching his five children grow into adults. He participated in many community centered activities in Butler and Pittsburgh, such as serving as chairman of the Butler Roe Airport Operating Committee, the St. Andrew Church Finance Committee and the Heart Fund Drive; president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and the chamber in Verona; and a member of the Board of Regents at St. Fidelis College, the Chevrolet Dealer Planning committees, both regionally and nationally, the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, St. Paul Roman Catholic Church and the Sierra Club.Although Mr. Kelly spent the last few months of his life confined to his home, he continued to have strong opinions on everything from the automotive industry to the upcoming presidential election.It was not unusual to see one of his 10 grandchildren sitting next to him at his kitchen table listening to candid, humorous life-lesson stories or the need to have a strong faith in God. Never one "to beat around the bush," his house was always filled with lively conversation with both family and friends. One of his most frequently used statements was that life and faith in God is like a bank account. If you do not put anything in it, you will not be able to get anything out of it.He is survived by three sons, George J. Kelly Jr. and his wife, Victoria, Richard Kelly and his wife, Jymie, and Robert Kelly and his wife, Kim, all of Butler; a daughter, Mary Patricia Krause and her husband, Werner, of Pompano Beach, Fla.; a brother, Edward Kelly of Butler; his sisters, Ann Melia and Mary Virginia Kelly, both of Pittsburgh; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia McTighe Kelly; a daughter, Mary Joyce Kelly; brothers, Daniel, John, Paul and Joe Kelly; and a sister, Catherine Kelly.

<B>KELLY</B> — Friends of George J. Kelly Sr., who died Thursday, March 6, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the <B>Martin Funeral Home</B>, 429 Center Ave. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church. Burial will be in Hastings.Members of the Knights of Columbus will recite the rosary at 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.Members of St. Paul Guild and Christian Mothers will recite the rosary at 9:35 a.m. Monday at the church.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities.Information also is available at www.martinfh.net.