Edwin Weldon Kelley

Edwin Weldon Kelley passed away following a stroke on February 12, 2021 at Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester VA holding his daughters hand and listening to Nat King Cole’s Stardust. He was born July 5, 1930 on Kent Island, MD to Hobart Kelley and Mary (Sparks) Kelley. He was the youngest of two bothers Hobart M. Jr. and Charles Stuart; however, many a person over the years considered him to be their “other brother”. His family of friends was large and his “best friend” many. He grew up with the knowledge of heart ache (with his father passing away when he was six years old) and a dedication to hard work (saving enough money at a young age to put indoor plumbing in his mother’s home). He was a sales manager at G & G Distributors for 20 years, selling beer through five eastern shore counties. He knew everyone, and if he didn’t, he probably knew your parents, and if not, he would buy you a beer and make sure he did. After working holidays and weekends and late evenings, he made a career change and spent 19 years with the Maryland State Department of Assessments. With a smile, he acknowledged that people weren’t as happy seeing the tax assessor coming, as they were the beer salesman. His memories of driving a beer truck were some of his happiest. He was a past Commander of the American Legion, past president of the Centreville Lions Club and the Queen Anne’s County Sportsman’s Club, and frequently acknowledged for his commitment and leadership. He attended the famed game dinner each New Year’s Day at “the shack”, which followed the famed New Year’s Eve party attended by the same group of friends for 55 years. He was amazed and grateful to be invited by “the young guys” to take part in the muskrat dinner each February. He was not one to miss a party. Weldon was married for 61 years to Charlotte Anne (Dukes) Kelley. He had three children Dean Perrone(Gale) of Boca Raton, Fla, Jan Kelley Jordan (deceased 2014, a source of unrecoverable heart ache) and Leigh Kelley McCarthy of Leesburg Va. He had five grandchildren who let him know he had given them the skills in life to achieve all that they wanted. He was a part of the Eastern Shore and the Eastern Shore was a part of him. He fished, played cards, guitar and pool, attempted to shuck oysters, drank gin martinis, told stories and danced to everything from Big Band to Willie Nelson. He loved and was loved, and there is no better measure of a successful life. In lieu of flowers, it is asked that donations be made in his name to your local hospice or the Jeff Davis Post 18 American Legion. A service to connect and share memories will be scheduled in the spring.

Edwin Weldon Kelley

July 5, 1930 - February 12, 2021