George W. Kelley Jr.

Glade Spring, Virginia

George W. Kelley, Jr. age 83, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2024. He has shed his earthly shroud, mounted his bike and rode off down the Milky Way to meet his loved ones who predeceased him and to meet his Lord to learn the answers to the questions that eluded him during his lifetime. 

George was predeceased by his parents George W. and Virginia (Ratcliffe) Kelley, by his brother Harry, by a favorite Uncle Alfred E. McThena and by several aunts, uncles and cousins.

His sister-in-law Maggie Miller Kelley Brewer, his nephew Travis Miller and wife Kristy, his great nephew Cody Miller and several cousins survive him.

His nephew Travis Miller has been a faithful supporter that gave George the courage to push onward after he became confined to a wheelchair due to the failure of his knees. Other friends and neighbors also pitched in to keep George looking forward with hope and the expectancy that help from them was only a telephone call away.  A special thanks is extended to George’s schoolmates Fred and Shelby Lester who helped George overcome many of the hurdles during his declining health.  Wendy Davis and Kalin Ferguson, Lee and Bridget Creasy, Ben and Morgan Creasy are also due a hearty “Thank you” for their contributions to George’s excellent care. 

George found happiness in his associations with a succession of canine friends comprised of four German shepherds and two border collies.  When George hiked over the hills, camped in Hoot Owl Hollow or canoed on the Middle Fork of the Holston River there was always his current dog accompanying him.  He also enjoyed bike riding on the Virginia Creeper Trail where he captured colored slides that he shared with many people.  He had ridden over 16,000 miles when an unfortunate slip of a foot injured a knee and ultimately brought his bike riding to an end.

His curiosity also drew his attention to the night sky.  He kept a stable of optical instruments, each suitable for observing objects specific to his interests. He was a former member of the Bristol Astronomy Club, the Astronomical League and of the American Association of Variable Star Observers to which he contributed over 11,000 variable star magnitude estimates during his stargazing career.  He was recognized by the AAVSO for being the first of their observers to discover and report the explosive eruption of Nova Cygni 1975.

George graduated from Glade Spring High School then Washington County Technical School where he studied drafting.  Thereafter he was employed in the Design Division of the Bristol District Office of the Virginia Department of Transportation.  In addition to preparing plans for highways in southwest Virginia he was eventually assigned the duty of monitoring and reporting the status of the major components that make up sets of plans that were being prepared for advertisement.  He enjoyed meeting the challenges of his job.

George enjoyed learning.  He enjoyed sharing knowledge with youngsters – the future promise of our nation. He never hesitated to accept invitations from area schoolteachers to share his enthusiasm for learning with their students.  He chuckled when he recalled how one day he emptied a county elementary school by showing a class of students how to safely observe a solar eclipse using two paper plates and a straight pen to punch a projection hole through one of them.  Soon taking notice, the entire student body appeared out on the lawn to join in the observance.  He also gave lectures to Boy Scouts so they might earn Merit Badges in astronomy.  Never one to pass up the opportunity to teach he became a first aid and CPR instructor for American Red Cross and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

He was a member of the now closed Kelly’s Chapel Methodist Church where for a time he served as the teacher for a Sunday School class.

The family will receive friends on Friday, July 5, 2024, from 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. in the Frost Funeral Home Chapel.  A memorial service will follow at 7:00 P.M. with Pastor Dewey Brown and Bro. Jerry Miller officiating. Inurnment will be held privately.

Frost Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Mr. George Kelley Jr.