Obituary of William J. Kelly

LAKE PLACID WILLIAM J. (BILL) KELLY PASSED AWAY AT ELDERWOOD ON JUNE 5,2023 AFTER A VERY BRIEF STAY. BORN IN LACKAWANNA N.Y. NOVEMBER 10, 1927. IN 1945 HE ENTERED THE ARMY AND SERVED WITH THE ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS FOR THREE YEARS. HE WAS STATIONED IN AUSTRIA, WHERE HE BECAME FOND OF SKIING. HE WAS DISCHARGED IN 1948. HE THEN WAS EMPLOYED ON THE GREAT LAKES, AS A DECK HAND ON AN ORE BOAT FOR TWO YEARS. HE WAS RECALLED, SERVING IN THE KOREAN WAR AND DISCHARGED AFTER 10 MONTHS HE TRAVELLED BY TRAIN FROM UTICA TO LAKE PLACID IN 1949 HE SETTLED IN LAKE PLACID WHERE HE WORKED CONSTRUCTION ON THE NEW HOSPITAL, THEN ONTO THE LAKE PLACID CLUB FOR FIVE YEARS, WHERE HE MEANT HIS FUTURE WIFE MILDRED PELKEY. THEY WERE MARRIED ON MARCH 5, 1955. HE CONTINUED IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD ALONG WITH CARETAKING FOR THE WEIKRS ON MOOSE ISLAND, LAKE PLACID IN SUMMERS AND AS SKI PATROL AT LAKE PLACID CLUB’S, MT. WHITNEY IN THE WINTERS, FOR 12 YEARS. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE LAKE PLACID VOL. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR RACING TEAM (Drill Team) FOR 14 YEARS. LEADING THEM TO NORTHERN NEW YORK CHAMPIONS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. BILL LOVED TO FISH, HUNT, SKI AND HAVE A FEW BEERS. VISITATION WILL BE HELD JUNE 13TH FROM 1;00PM TO 2:00PM AT CLARK FUNERAL HOME IN LAKE PLACID WITH A PRAYER SERVICE FOLLOWED BY A FIRE DEPARTMENT PRAYER SERVICE TO FOLLOW VISITATION. BURIAL WILL FOLLOW IN NORTON CEMETERY, KEENE, NY. REV. DEREK HANSEN WILL OFFICIATE AND AMERICAN LEGION MARCY, KEEN VALLEY, NY WILL PROVIDE MILITARY HONORS. THE M.B. CLARK, INC, FUNERAL HOME IN LAKE PLACID WILL BE IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. PLEASE VISIT WWW.MBCLARKFUNERALHOME.COM TO SHARE A MEMORY OR LEAVE CONDOLENCES. FRIENDS WISHING TO REMEMBER BILL MAY MAKE DONATIONS TO THE LAKE PLACID TO THE LAKE PLACID VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE SERVICE OR THE KEENE VALLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.