Obituary of Franklin George Kelly

Franklin G. Kelly

Franklin Kelly, aka “Fearless Frank” took his final flight on August 27, 2019 in the loving care of Polidori House. He passed away peacefully at sunrise, with son Matt and daughter Carolyn holding his hands.  Frank was 93 years young.

Born on March 12, 1926 to Harold and Sophia Kelly, Frank grew up in a nautical family, learning to sail on Lake Michigan. At 17 Frank joined the Navy to serve his country, and trained to be a naval aviator. On V-J day he had his first solo flight in a Stearman biplane. Sea, sky, and adventure became his lifelong passions. Following military service he graduated from the University of Michigan as an electrical engineer, completing his studies in Mexico City where he became fluent in Spanish.

In 1951, Frank married the love of his life, Marian Ridley, in Mexico City. Frank and Marian made Long Beach, California their home for the next 34 years raising two children. In the early 60s they lived in England and Scotland for a year, affording them the opportunity to explore Europe in their Sunbeam Alpine convertible with two toddlers in tow. Frank was an aerospace engineer at TRW in Redondo Beach, California, designing satellites and spacecraft. He tucked his business card into a space probe that landed on the moon. TRW sent Frank and Marian to the Australian outback for the last five years of his employment where he communicated with satellites via computer. Their love of travel and adventure continued south of the equator, and they toured the planet together several times. Frank made a point of learning language from each country he visited and taught it to his family. Twice, Frank and Marian toured Europe, camping in style in their VW Westfalia van. Retirement brought them to Lake Havasu City where they had enjoyed many family vacations over the years, also closer to their children and grandchildren.

Sea and sky continued to be Frank’s passions throughout his long life. He leaves an encyclopedic record of his travel and adventures through his love of photography. Frank built sailboats, was a scuba diver, and shared his love of the ocean with his daughter Carolyn on many dive trips and sailing adventures. Family vacations were spent boat camping at Lake Powell and Lake Havasu, where he was famous for getting his teenage kids up in the pre-dawn hours to ski on glassy water, or at sunset until it was too dark to ski. He taught his children astronomy under the desert skies and could be persuaded to share his extensive knowledge of dirty limericks on occasion.

Frank’s passion for aviation led him to fly hang gliders, sailplanes, hot air balloons, and on occasion he was known to parachute out of a perfectly good airplane. Building and flying model airplanes with his son Matt began in the 1960s and continued throughout his life. Frank belonged to the Havasu Sport Flyers and Desert Hawks R/C club. Frank revisited his naval aviation days on his 80^th birthday, flying in the yellow Stearman biplane often seen in the skies of Lake Havasu. He was a computer whiz and active in the Colorado River Computer Club. Gourmet cooking and fine dining were Frank’s true pleasures and he never said no to pie. He spent countless hours creating elaborate menus and meals for his loved ones. He worked his daily crossword puzzles with ease and was a master of Sudoku. Frank was also a talented woodworker, jeweler, and owner of several patents for his inventions.

Frank is survived by his daughter Carolyn (Eddo) Earley, son Matt (Cathy) Kelly, and significant other Betty McReynolds who has been his loving companion for the last ten years. He has three grandchildren, Scott, Beth, and Michael, and two great-grandchildren, Steven and Lucy. Marian, his wife of 52 years, preceded him in death, also his cats Genghis, Ralf, Oodles, and Irving, his brothers Bill and Eaton, and his sister Anna. He was the last surviving sibling (“I win!”). Frank maintained his legendary sense of humor to the very end, charming family and caregivers during his last days. Frank joked on his final move to Polidori House: “I’ll be good as new in the morning!” La Golondrina was a song he loved and requested to hear upon his passing. A lament about swallows taking a long journey and being far away from where they belong, ending with adios, adios, ADIOS!

Frank’s family is forever grateful for the care, kindness, and compassion received from Havasu Regional Hospital, Prestige Assisted Living, Hospice of Havasu, and especially Polidori House during his final hours. Arrangements were made by Lietz-Fraze funeral home. There will be a private celebration of life with his family and donations may be made in his name to Hospice of Havasu.

Services were entrusted to the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. Thoughts and condolences can be sent to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. To send a free card go to www.sendoutcards.com/lietzfraze.