Obituary of Joseph F. Kelly

Joseph F. Kelly, 89, of Kingston passed away on Friday, February 16, 2024 at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, a son of the late Joseph Kelly and Frances Graser Kelly Weber. Joe was a 1952 graduate of G.A.R. Memorial High School. He served with the U.S. Army from 1957 – 1959 and in the Army Reserves until 1963. Joe began his career as a data processor at Planter Peanuts (Standard Brands), he was later employed as a data processing supervisor for CMP in Old Forge and was then employed for 30 years as a supervisor for the Control Section of the Pennsylvania State Workmen’s Insurance Fund in Scranton, retiring in 1994. Joe was a member St. Ignatius Church in Kingston and a member of several local community and dinner theater groups as both an actor and director. He was a founding member of the Showcase Theater and served on the steering committee of Chamber Music of NEPA. Joe was the past president of Firwood Senior Group, St. Therese Senior Group and St. Robert Bellarmine Senior Group. He enjoyed the theater and music, the golden oldies, Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi and Puccini. Joe was an avid reader and loved to travel in the United States and Europe. He was an active member of the G.A.R. Class of 1952 alumni group. Joe shared his time and talents assisting others as a volunteer for the Wyoming Valley Health Care at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital; AARP Safe Driving Program and at John Heinz Allied Services. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step father, William Weber and by his brother, William Kelly and his wife, Jane; sister, Marie Dettmore and her husband, Joseph; and by his niece Kelly Ann Dettmore. Joe is survived by his niece and nephews, Francine Lewis and her husband, John, Wilkes-Barre; Joseph Dettmore and his wife, Diane, Rutherford, NJ; and Thomas Dettmore and his wife, Diane, Wilkes-Barre. My thanks for your love and support. He is also survived by his great nieces and nephews, William Lewis and his wife, Laurie; Brent Lewis and his wife, Kelly; Sue Gyonge Song; Bethany Marie Dettmore and her husband, Jason Reif; Zachary Joseph Dettmore and his wife, Camille and Todd Dettmore; several great great nieces and nephews; numerous friends and special thank you to Megan Maguire, Bear Creek, and the Maguire family, who gave the definitive meaning to the word friendship. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10 am from the Nat Gawlas Jordan Funeral Home, 89 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Township. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 4-7 pm on Thursday at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent by visiting Joe’s obituary at ngjfuneral.com.