Bernard William Kelly

Bernard was born Jan. 30, 1929, to Leo William “Bill” and Jennie (Framstad) Kelly in Waterloo, Iowa.

He graduated in 1946 from Osage High School (Osage, Iowa). Following high school, he worked on the Chicago Northern Railroad, Sunshine Silver Mine in Wallace, Idaho, and as a forklift operator at the United States Army ADAK base in the Aleutian Islands.

He married Betty Ellingson in 1950 and they attended Iowa State Teachers College (ISTC) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He graduated from ISTE in 1954 and later earned his Masters degree from George Washington University (Washington, D.C.). He began his teaching career in the Midwest (Hudson, Iowa and Preston, Minnesota) and eventually settled in Northern Virginia, where he taught at Gunston Jr. High and Wakefield High School (Arlington), and Woodson and Annandale high schools in (Fairfax County). He had a passion for reading and sharing a great story with all he met. Bernard was a mentor and tutor to many, and part of his legacy was his deep bonding with people of all ages.

The Kellys moved to 10th & Independence on Capitol Hill in May of 1968. Bernard took an Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics course in the early 1960s, which eventually led him and Max Cohen to acquire the Washington, D.C. franchise. A highlight of his ‘teaching’ career was teaching the reading technique at the White House to then President Jimmy Carter and his family and staff. Before retiring, he worked for Washington School for Secretaries.

In 1978, the Kellys purchased the “upper farm” of Endless Caverns (New Market, Virginia) where Bernard applied both carpentry and masonry skills to the bank barn renovation. With a nod to the unique and unusual, he added the windows from the John Wesley Methodist Church (Harrisonburg, Virginia).

He was a baker at his son Sean’s restaurant, Keitsa’s (Broadway, Virginia). Tales of his apple dumplings and peanut butter pie are still told. Fishing with friends and family in the spring-fed farm pond was a favorite pastime. Music was a constant in his life and the ‘Hi-Fi ‘played it all: from Big Band to Classical to Folk and beyond. Belafonte, Burl Ives, and Odetta were early favorites. When a former student gave him an advance copy of Bob Dylan’s “Freewheeling” album, he was added to the mix. The Kellys later resided in Harrisonburg and Staunton, Virginia and enjoyed being closer to their grandson Elling and family. Following Betty’s death in 2023, Bernard moved to Mountain Memories in Elkins, West Virginia.

He is survived by sons Michael (Sandra) Kelly of Vinton, Iowa, and Sean (Barbara) Kelly of Elkins, West Virginia; grandson, Elling (Stephanie) Kelly of Weyers Cave, Virginia, along with three great grandchildren, Duane, Annabelle and Callie.

Bernard was predeceased by his parents, Bill and Jennie Kelly; his wife of 72 years, Betty Kelly; and brothers, Leo and Jim Kelly, and sister Margaret “Peg” Gieser.

A graveside service conducted by Pastor Christopher Knoedler will be held at Fairview Church at Endless Caverns on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at 4 p.m., where his cremains will be interred.

Grandle Funeral Home of Broadway, Virginia, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the contributor’s local hospice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.Grandle FuneralHome.com.