William "Bill" W. Kelly

William (Bill) W. Kelly was born in Toronto, Canada on April 7, 1926.  He passed away Monday, October 21, 2019 in Edgewood, New Mexico.  He was preceded in death by Pauline, his wife of 22 years; his parents, George and Pansy May Kelly; and a brother and wife, Alva Kelly.  Bill is survived by his son, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Kelly of North Chili, New York; step-son, Donald Ames of Moriarty, New Mexico; step daughter, Suzanne Keaty and husband, Chris; three step grandsons; and two step great-grandchildren.

As a young man Bill worked in traveling sales and served honorably in the Royal Canadian Airforce as a radio operator and aerial photographer helping to map northern Canada.  In 1964, Bill and his son Brian, toured the Caribbean, living seven months in Barbados where he worked as a TV technician.  Returning to Toronto, they moved to Rochester, New York where Bill worked for General Dynamics and then many years for Xerox.

Bill met Pauline Ames as she visited a sister in New York and this led to his eventual move to Albuquerque in the late 80’s.  They were married on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1990 at Eastridge Wesleyan Church, ten years later renewing their vows.  As Pauline worked in banking, Bill tried his hand in printing and selling the Country Register newspapers.

Bill’s spiritual journey began when he realized that Christ and His church were everything to Pauline.  For many years she taught Sunday School and served in what is now Celebrate Wesleyan.  Bill grappled with coming to faith but after years of attendance finally made his confession and was baptized with two teens in the Jemez River.  Bill loved everyone’s dogs on the church campouts and was heartbroken to give up his own a year ago.

In this last year Bill began to decline and after several falls and a broken hip he began a journey of assisted living and several hospital stays.  In every instance staff members always appreciated Bill’s thankfulness expressed daily.  He is remembered and missed at Celebrate Wesleyan Church where he remained as faithful as possible after Pauline’s 2016 passing.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, November 2, 2019, 10:00 a.m. at Celebrate Wesleyan Church, 12417 Constitution Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112.