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William A. 'Bill' Kelly, a former resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away in Monterey, California, on July 4, at the age of 86.
Born in Los Angeles and a graduate of Fairfax High School, Bill trained as an airplane mechanic in the U.S. Army Air Force and served in China and India during World War II.
After safely returning home, he earned degrees in art and architecture from UC Santa Barbara and the University of Illinois.
He led bicycle tours of Europe in the 1950's for AYH (American Youth Hostels, now Hostelling International). On a detour through Denmark he met Bende Iris Goodley through a Norwegian architect colleague. They were married in Los Angeles in 1961 and soon welcomed a son and a daughter.
They moved to Bestor Boulevard in Pacific Palisades 1969, where they lived until 1992. They were active members of the Pacific Palisades Historical Society. '
Bill taught architectural history and related topics at L.A. Trade Technical College and maintained a small architectural practice while Bende taught at the Methodist Preschool on Via de la Paz.
The couple shared a love of travel, taking the kids to Europe regularly. Domestic travel included family camping trips to the East Coast, Alaska, Canada and Mexico. Every trip featured architectural landmarks, whether cathedrals in England or Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the Midwest.
After retirement, the Kellys moved to Monterey and continued traveling voraciously, visiting Europe, Turkey, Russia, Africa, South and Central America. Bill filled his free time painting watercolors of local landscapes and volunteering for the Maritime Museum and Monterey State Historic Park.
He was an artist, a mechanic, a handyman, a cook, a photographer and a nature lover, but his supreme hobby was making people laugh.
In addition to Bende, his loving wife of 49 years, Bill is survived by their son Ken of Columbia, South Carolina; their daughter Annelise of Portland, Oregon; his sister Bea and brother Dick (wife Margaret).
His family is planning to celebrate his life with friends in August. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Alzheimer's Association. |
