James R. "Jim" Kelly

James Robert “Jim” Kelly, 88, of Newberry, died Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at Newberry County Memorial Hospital.

Born on November 28, 1923, in Greenville, he was the son of the late Simon Marx and Pauline Wardell Kelly. Mr. Kelly attended Columbia Tech in Washington, DC, and was a World War II veteran having served in the Field Artillary and then served in the Army Air Corps as a radio operator for the B17 Flying Fortress. He was the co-owner of Globe Finance Company, Inc. for 63 years. He was the co-founder and former president of WKMG Radio. Mr. Kelly was a member of Epting Memorial United Methodist Church where he was a member and teacher of the Men's Bible Class for many years. Mr. Kelly previously served on the church Administrative Board and Council on Ministries. He was a Hamm radio operator (K4KCO) and a member of the Newberry Masonic Lodge for more than 60 years.

Mr. Kelly was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who is survived by his wife of 61 years, Agnes Corley Kelly; daughters and sons-in-law, Karen K.(Ron) Protts of Orangeburg and Janet K. (Ronnie) Chapman of Kinards; grandchildren, Kelly P. and Tripp Hungerpiller, Joshua P. and Kimberly Chapman, Jami C. and Reid Harrison, Leah Kristen P. and Robbie Bernardo, and Seth J. Chapman, and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, April 13, 2012, at Epting Memorial United Methodist Church by the Rev. Fred Buchanan and Rev. Hugh Bickley. Burial will follow in Rosemont Cemetery. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the graveside. Memorials may be made to Epting Memorial United Methodist Church, 1401 Milligan Street, Newberry, SC 29108.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Men's Bible Class of Epting Memorial United Methodist Church and three of his hamm radio buddies.

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