1920
Charles
2018
Charles Kelley
February 2, 1920 — June 29, 2018
Charles B. "Bill" Kelley, age 98 of Long Beach, MS passed away on Friday, June 29, 2018, in Gulfport, MS.
Mr. Kelley was born on February 2, 1920, in Purvis, MS, to the late Carrie Kelley Nolan and Short Kelley. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Long Beach. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend to many.
Charles was a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 568, as he was a pipefitter by trade. He served his country from 1941-1944, joining the U.S. Army on December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked. Charles Kelley was the Lead Mechanic and Commander of the Sherman T-32 Retriever Tanks for the Service Company 40th Battalion, "Lucky" 7th Armored Division, having served under General George Patton for a time. He was proud of the fact he participated in the Battle at St. Vith, which was the greatest pitched battle on the western front, which is recognized by both German and Allied Commanders, as a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge.
He met the love of his life, Lois Langston in 1941, and made her his wife on April 22, 1944, before shipping out to England, (he was afraid she would not wait for him to return from the war). They were blessed to be able to spend 74 years together.
Charles loved the sounds of the Big Band Era, especially Glenn Miller, as that was his favorite. He would often remanence of the times spent at the Palladium Ball Room while in the service, dancing to the music of the "Big Bands."
He was an avid foxhunter during his life, owning sometimes 22 fox hounds at one time. As he was called Bill by his fox hunting friends, he would brag at the fact he had the "best" and "most" hounds of any one around. Now, they did not always agree, but it made good conservation on the tailgates of their trucks.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Carrie Kelley Nolan and father, Short Kelley; sisters, Lois Shields, Geneva Bishop, Clarisse Switzer, LaSonia Wintzell, and Rubena Clark; brothers, Dr. Arthell Kelley, and Harold Kelley.
Survivors include his wife, Lois Kelley; daughter, Charlene (Dale) Stogner; son, Arthell (Brenda) Kelley; grandchildren, Todd (Michelle) Stogner, and Tiffany (Kyle) Tyre; great-grandchildren, Garrett LaRosa, Lakelyn Tinsley, Gracyn Tyre, Landon Tyre, and Demi Stogner; brother, Dr. Stanley Nolan; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Visitation will be Tuesday, July 3, 2018, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., with a 2:00 p.m. service, all at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 19130 Commission Road, Long Beach. Interment will follow in the Coalville Cemetery, Woolmarket, MS.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request memorial offerings be made to First Baptist Church "His Church Rising Fund," Long Beach, MS, or to "The Wounded Warrior Project."
An online guestbook may be signed at condolences offered at www.riemannfamily.com
Mr. Kelley was born on February 2, 1920, in Purvis, MS, to the late Carrie Kelley Nolan and Short Kelley. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Long Beach. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend to many.
Charles was a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 568, as he was a pipefitter by trade. He served his country from 1941-1944, joining the U.S. Army on December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked. Charles Kelley was the Lead Mechanic and Commander of the Sherman T-32 Retriever Tanks for the Service Company 40th Battalion, "Lucky" 7th Armored Division, having served under General George Patton for a time. He was proud of the fact he participated in the Battle at St. Vith, which was the greatest pitched battle on the western front, which is recognized by both German and Allied Commanders, as a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge.
He met the love of his life, Lois Langston in 1941, and made her his wife on April 22, 1944, before shipping out to England, (he was afraid she would not wait for him to return from the war). They were blessed to be able to spend 74 years together.
Charles loved the sounds of the Big Band Era, especially Glenn Miller, as that was his favorite. He would often remanence of the times spent at the Palladium Ball Room while in the service, dancing to the music of the "Big Bands."
He was an avid foxhunter during his life, owning sometimes 22 fox hounds at one time. As he was called Bill by his fox hunting friends, he would brag at the fact he had the "best" and "most" hounds of any one around. Now, they did not always agree, but it made good conservation on the tailgates of their trucks.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Carrie Kelley Nolan and father, Short Kelley; sisters, Lois Shields, Geneva Bishop, Clarisse Switzer, LaSonia Wintzell, and Rubena Clark; brothers, Dr. Arthell Kelley, and Harold Kelley.
Survivors include his wife, Lois Kelley; daughter, Charlene (Dale) Stogner; son, Arthell (Brenda) Kelley; grandchildren, Todd (Michelle) Stogner, and Tiffany (Kyle) Tyre; great-grandchildren, Garrett LaRosa, Lakelyn Tinsley, Gracyn Tyre, Landon Tyre, and Demi Stogner; brother, Dr. Stanley Nolan; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Visitation will be Tuesday, July 3, 2018, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., with a 2:00 p.m. service, all at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 19130 Commission Road, Long Beach. Interment will follow in the Coalville Cemetery, Woolmarket, MS.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request memorial offerings be made to First Baptist Church "His Church Rising Fund," Long Beach, MS, or to "The Wounded Warrior Project."
An online guestbook may be signed at condolences offered at www.riemannfamily.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles Kelley, please visit our flower store.
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