Richard J Kelly

Richard Joseph Kelly, 87, of Titusville went home to be with the Lord on Monday, August 8, 2022. Richard was born on March 7, 1935 to the late Francis and Julia Kelly in Erie, PA. He grew up in Miami, FL, and graduated from Coral Gables High School in 1953. Richard served our nation with great honor with the U.S. Air Force as a Radio Technician. He was honorably discharged in 1959. On October 7, 1961, Richard married Joan Fitzgibbons in Miami, FL. During the next few years, Richard and Joan’s family grew with the birth of a daughter, Sharon, and a son, Brian. In 1966, Richard moved with his family to Cocoa and to Titusville in 1989. While living in Cocoa, Richard worked for Boeing as an electronics technician until the end of the Apollo program. During the next few years, Richard went back to college and graduated from UCF (FTU) in March 1976 with a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation, Richard began work at the Kennedy Space Center supporting the Shuttle Program. He worked for USBI as a Test Engineer focusing on the Space Shuttle’s Booster Systems. Richard retired in March 1997 from USBI. He enjoyed playing tennis and was a member of the Space Coast Tennis League. When he wasn’t on the courts, he enjoyed his time as a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church. Richard is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 42 years, Joan, and sisters Rita McGilvray, Delores Enter, and Geri Arthur. He will be greatly missed by his daughter Sharon (Brian) Garvey; son Brian (Carol Barber) Kelly; granddaughter Kathleen Garvey, brother Kenneth Kelly, and nieces and nephews.  The family would also like to thank the staff at Hospice of Health First at Cape Canaveral Hospital for the attentive care that they provided in his final days. Visitation will be held from 10:30 – 11:00 am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am on Friday, August 19, 2022 at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Titusville, FL. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. Condolences may be shared at www.northbrevardfuneralhome. 

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