Joe Garth Kelley of McKinney, Texas passed away on April 1, 2022 at the age of 95 surrounded by his family. He was born on October 26, 1926 to Loyola Cleon Kelley and Mabel Giles Kelley in Westminster, Texas where he grew up. Joe graduated from North Texas State College with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. Joe married Dora Lee “Dodie” Thompson on March 26, 1948 in Desert, Texas and they recently celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary together in McKinney.
Joe was a United States Army Veteran serving as an instructor in rocket guidance during the Korean War under Wernher von Braun in Huntsville, Alabama. After his military service he had a long career working on aircraft across the country for Vought Aeronautics. He was a master mechanic and craftsman who was able to debug almost any problem in the field. Together with his wife, Joe built the houses he and Dodie lived in while attending college, the house in Richardson where they raised their family together, and finally the country home near Desert where they retired in 1983. About 10 years ago, Joe and Dodie moved to the Country Lane senior community in McKinney, Texas. During his retirement, Joe served as Chairman of the Elm Grove Cemetery association and volunteered his time helping children through church projects benefiting the Scottish Rite Hospital. He was a long-time member of Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Desert and attended many other churches in Collin County.
Joe is survived by his wife, Dodie Kelley of McKinney, Texas; two sons, Keith Joel Kelley and wife, Cheryl of Encinitas, California, Kirk Lee Kelley and wife, Jessica of Portland, Oregon; grandchildren, Kristen Kelley of Sacramento, California, Kelsey Kelley of Portland, Oregon and Hattie Kelley of Portland, Oregon. He also is survived by numerous other loving family members and friends.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents and older sister, Mary Lee Kirk.
A graveside service to celebrate Joe’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday April 5, 2022 at Crossroads (Desert) Cemetery on SH 160 at SH 78 (just south of Hwy 121) near Desert, Texas.