RICHARD EUGENE KELLEY, JR., age 79, of Washington CH passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at home following a brief illness with stage 4 lung cancer.

Rick was born on July 15, 1946 in Columbus, Ohio to Anna Colaw Kelley and Richard E. Kelley, Sr. He served in the US Navy from 1964 – 1968 in Aviation Ordinance, Attack Squadron VA 65, serving two tours in Vietnam on the USS Constellation and the USS Forrestal CV-59.

He was a 1964 graduate of Washington High School and a resident of Washington CH his entire life. He was self-employed for many years as a Standardbred horse driver and trainer, also worked for Morris Bean & Co., Armco, Mac Tools and retired from ABX Air in Wilmington as a lead. He was a member of Heritage Church and formerly McNair Presbyterian. He enjoyed meeting friends for coffee daily, watching horses train at the fairgrounds, monthly dinners with classmates, playing poker with a group of men that started in the 1940’s and working jigsaw puzzles. He was a member of the American Legion Post 25 and a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge and served many years on the Board at the Fayette County Commission on Aging. The past few years he served as President and was proud to assist at any event where needed. He and his wife Georgette enjoyed traveling on trips planned by the Commission on Aging.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard E. and Anna A. Kelley and a brother Michael Allen Kelley, who passed away when he was two days old. Survivors include his wife, Della Georgette (Hughs) Kelley (married 57 years), son, Brian J. (Tracy) Kelley, grandsons, Anthony (Amanda) Kelley, and Justin Kelley, and their mother, Tonia Maxfield, sisters-in-law, Dianne Hughs Shuler, and Kelley Hughs, and brother-in-law, Bob Hughs.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Heritage Church, 1867 Old US 35 NW, Washington CH, OH 43160, with Joy Stanforth officiating with burial to follow at the Milledgeville-Plymouth Cemetery. Family and friends may visit at the Church on Thursday morning from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Fayette County Commission on Aging/Meals on Wheels, 1179 S. Elm St., Washington CH, OH 43160.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Summers Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.summersfuneralhome.com