LEICESTER: Theron E. Kelley, 82, of Leicester, passed away on Dec. 6th. in UMASS Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA. He was born October 19, 1940, in Portland, ME, son of James and Mildred (Hodsdon) Kelley of East Conway, NH. Theron attended elementary schools at East Conway and Center Conway, and graduated from Kennett High School in Conway in 1959. In 1961, he graduated from New Hampshire Tech in Concord with an Associates Degree in electronics.
On June 6, 1961, Theron married the love of his life, June M. Crouse, of Stow, ME, at the Congregational Church in North Conway, NH and they first resided at the “Argue Not” apartment house in Fryeburg, ME. Unable to find employment in electronics in the area, Theron worked for a year and a half at the Diamond National Lumber Mill in Fryeburg.
In 1963, Theron enlisted in the Air Force, and after basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas, he received further training in electronics at Chanute AFB in Illinois, where his wife June joined him. They later moved to northern Michigan when Theron was assigned duty at Kinchloe AFB near Sault Saint Marie. In 1967, Theron re-enlisted in the Air Force for four more years and was temporarily reassigned to Otis AFB on Cape Cod, MA, before being sent on a one-year secret mission to Thailand. He completed his active duty enlistment in 1971 at Lockbourne AFB in Columbus, OH.
In 1971, The Kelley’s settled in Leicester, MA, and Theron worked many years until retirement for Service Station Maintenance Company in Worcester, MA, while also serving for many years in the Air Force Reserves at Westover AFB in Chicopee, MA, including one year on active duty at Westover during the Persian Gulf War, 1990-91.
After retirement, Theron and June enjoyed twenty years traveling in their RV throughout New England and were members of the Good Sams RV Club for many years.
Theron is survived by his wife June of Leicester; his son Jonathan of Spencer, MA; his grandchildren; Hannah, James and Patrick Kelley of Leicester; a brother, Kirk Kelley and his wife Paula of Columbia, TN; a sister, Sue Potter and her husband Glenn of Mechanicsburg, PA; his aunt Sarah Kelly of Holden, MA.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his daughter Angela, who died in 1993 at age 26.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Congregational Church of Leicester, 2 Washburn Sq., Leicester at 2 p.m. , Sunday, December 18, 2022. Interment will be in the Crouse- Kelley lot at Hillcrest Cemetery, Stow, ME. at the convenience of the family.
The Morin Funeral Home, 1131 Main St., Leicester, is assisting the family with arrangements.