John Barnes Kelly

John Barnes Kelly, 89, of Bellefontaine, Ohio passed away quietly at his home Wednesday evening, October 15, 2014, surrounded by his family.

He was born in Bellefontaine August 29, 1925, to the late John Davis and Ruth Elizabeth (Barnes) Kelly and was raised in West Liberty. Also preceding him in death were an infant son, Matthew Kelly; a brother, James Kelly; his step-mother, Mary (Bailey) Kelly and an aunt, Monicha Simpson.

John was married for sixty one years to Joan Pearson Kelly, formerly of Webster, South Dakota who survives him with their children, John Kelly of Brooklyn, New York, Pat (Chris) Ward of Milford, Massachusetts, Peg (Bill) Torness of Sisseton, South Dakota and Katie (Jack Cardone) Kelly of Glen Ridge, New Jersey and their grandchildren, Alison, Matthew and Stephen Ward, Will, Jack and Maggie Torness and Andrew Cardone.

John was a World War II Veteran and piloted the B-25 ("Mitchell") bomber in the Army Air Corps. He graduated from The Ohio State University Law School in 1951 and practiced law in Bellefontaine for more than fifty years. He was a member of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, a Mason and a Shriner and was continuously active in the civic life of the community, particularly championing public schools, environmental protection and moderate political principles. He loved basketball, tennis and golf, hunted and fished and was an avid collector of antiques.

Pastors Jonathan Bull and David Buchenroth will officiate a memorial service at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 19, 2014 at the First Lutheran Church in Bellefontaine. Military honors will be provided by Logan County Honor Guard. Visitation will be held Saturday, October 18, 2014 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the staff of the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine.