Leonard Bernoll Kelly, 92, formerly of Altoona, and a longtime resident of St. Augustine, Fla., passed away peacefully on Saturday in Williamsburg, Va.
He was born in Patton, the oldest son of Blair Franklin and Anna Beatrice (Christoff) Kelly. He married Virginia Fowler on July 19, 1942, at McDill Air Base, Tampa, Fla. She preceded him in death in 2009.
He is survived by a daughter, Terry Kelly Dunn (Keith) of Williamsburg, Va.; two sons: Todd Fowler Kelly (Janette) of Altoona, and Mark Frederick Kelly (Martha) of St. Augustine, Fla.; two grandchildren: Maj. Christina Vile, USAF (Maj. Casey) of Yorktown, Va., and Drew A. Dunn of Sykesville, Md.; a great-granddaughter, Liesl Anne Vile; a brother, Blair F. Kelly II of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; several nephews; and a niece.
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Leonard was a 1937 graduate of the Altoona High School and a 1938 graduate of the Culver Military Academy, Culver, Ind. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Norwich University, Northfield, Vt. in 1942.
As a lieutenant, he entered the United States Army Air Corps during WWII and served in the 320th Bomber Group, 442nd Squadron in North Africa. He served as the assistant adjutant general to Gen. Carl Spatz. Later, he served as assistant adjutant for Gen. Ira Eaker in the Mediterranean Allied Air Force Command in Italy. Following the war he served in the United States Air Force Reserve and retired as a lieutenant commander in the United States Coast Guard Reserve.
Leonard became the third generation owner of W.H. Kelly & Son Monument Builders, a firm begun by his grandfather in 1873. He was a member of the Altoona Rotary Club, retiring from business in 1999.
As an active member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, he enjoyed his lifelong passion and hobby for boating with his family and friends in Pennsylvania, Maryland., and Florida.
Funeral arrangements and interment in the Hollidaysburg Presbyterian Cemetery will be at the convenience of the family.
Memorials may be given to the Altoona Area School District Foundation, 1415 Sixth Ave., Altoona, PA 16602; or the Norwich University Alumni Association, 158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, VT 05663.
