Forrest "Bud" Edwin Kelley
May 20, 1939 ~ February 4, 2019
Forrest “Bud” Edwin Kelley, born May 20, 1939 in Camden New Jersey to parents Forrest and Eleanor Kelley, died on Monday, February 4, 2019.
Bud attended Alderson Broaddus College and graduated with a BA in Education and then married Barbara Hale in 1961. He spent three and a half years in the U.S. Army in Alaska. Bud was a loving father to his son Derek Hale Kelley, born in 1965 in Alaska.
Living in New Jersey for seven years, Bud worked for the Boy Scouts of America for two years and then taught school for 5 years in Bricktown, New Jersey. He then returned to West Virginia to work for Alderson Broaddus College for two years where he won the National Award for the largest increase in alumni giving for 1975. He taught Biology in Taylor County at Grafton High School for 25 years. During this time, he attended St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and for a number of years was the church’s treasurer and served on the vestry.
He received many awards during his teaching career and was chosen by the students as Teacher of the Year several times. In 2000, he retired from teaching but returned two years later to work in Alderson Broaddus’s Physician’s Assistant program for four more years.
During his retirement years, he worked with Adaland Development as a docent, the financial bookkeeper and served on the Board of Directors.
He served on the Board of Directors of Broaddus Hospital for 14 years, the last four years as President of the Board. He also served on the Board of Davis Memorial Hospital and the Community’s Historic Land Works Committee.
Friends will be received at Wright Funeral Home 220 N. Walnut St. Philippi on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 from 4-5pm. A memorial service will be held at 5pm with Rev. Fran McCoy and Rev. Robert Wilkins officiating. Bud’s request for cremation will be honored. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Animal Friends of Barbour County or Adaland Development.
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Bud was an outstanding science teacher and a special human being who loved life, his family, and the students he taught. He was a teacher with impact and one who had total respect from everyone. I consider it an honor and a privilege to have been one of his friends. He will be missed in a big way but the memories of his teachings and friendships will be long lasting. He lived life well but was taken much too soon for family and friends. What a great man!
Rest in sweet peace, kind sir. You were a gem!
I am a GHS 1980 alum. He was my favorite teacher. He treated every student with the same loving and respectful interest.
Deepest condolences to Mr. Kelley’s family and friends.
Sincerely,
Gail Reel Morrison
May our Lord bless and comfort you during this time of grief. I am so sorry for your loss. May Bud’s soul rest on peace. e
Mr. Kelley was my favorite teacher of all time. He made Science class so much fun with all his gestures, noises and excitement. Loved him dearly. Prayers for his family.
Amazing teacher who engaged the class and cared about his students as people. A college level teacher that we were fortunate enough to have in high school.. I am forever grateful for having known him as an educator and a man.
JR Toothman
He was a wonderful teacher and one of my favorites!
Wonderful father and husband, outstanding educator, tireless community service volunteer, great sense of humor and loyal friend of mine for over thirty years. In summary just a dam nice guy that I was lucky to count as my friend. RIP my old buddy. You will be missed!!
In memory of Forrest “Bud” Edwin Kelley, Candace jacques lit a candle
It is with great sadness I read about Mr Kelley today. He was my Biology teacher at GHS and after I finished classes with him, would still ask me how I was getting on in the rest of my classes during my final years of high school. He influenced me in my pursuit of science and gave me confidence in studying genetics which I still remember and smile about when I'm preparing data and designing experiments to this day. He was a kind man and always cheerful. He was a great teacher and an inspiration to many. I'm so sorry for your loss and for the loss of the community he served for many years. He is irreplaceable.
Bud was a wonderful friend and colleague. We both taught with Bud for years at GHS. He was well respected by his peers and beloved by his students. He was fun; enjoying a good joke as a recipient or delegator. Rest in peace dear friend. Dave and Sis Bruner
Bud was not only a good and honorable man, he was a dear friend. Over the years we enjoyed trading emails—often laughing, sometimes commiserating, but always knowing we were there for each other. I will miss him in more ways than words can tell. My sincerest sympathy to Barb, Derek and Kim. Your husband, dad, and father-in-law will always have a special place in my heart.
Barbara, I was so sorry to hear of Bud’s passing I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in person to express my condolences. I’m out of town rightt now. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
The BEST teacher I ever had. The world has lost an amazing human being. Condolences to the family. May Mr. Kelley rest peacefully with God.
I came to know Bud through a mutual friend of ours. All of us graduated from Alderson-Broaddus albeit at different times. Upon meeting Bud for the first time I sensed how easy he was to converse with and on a wide range of subjects. He taught all three of my sons and they had the utmost respect and admiration for him as an educator and person of such honor and integrity. I will miss our talks my friend but I am comforted by knowing you are pain free and have gained your heavenly reward. If you were lucky enough to know Bud then you were lucky enough. I was the better for it having known this gentleman. Rest in peace dear friend.
Even though Mr. Kelley was my teacher over 30 years ago, I thought of him often and would mention him to friends and family. He was a great teacher, told amazing stories, made learning exciting and challenging, and was honorable and respectful. I offer my condolences to his family and friends. It's always hard to lose a loved one, and it's even harder when that loved one is such a wonderful human being.
I met Bud on a fishing trip to Pa with friends years ago. We spent many hours not fishing but talking and sharing stories together. Several years later Bud and Barb visited us at our Greenbrier Co. home. We had another wonderful time together and soon realized what special friends they both were. I shared some of my art work with them and they both decided on a painting they would like to have in their home. May Bud rest in peace. He will be missed by many. Sincerely, John and Sandie Clovis