Kelly William Jewell Jr., of Wilmington, died peacefully Aug. 7, 2015, with his family at his bedside at Lower Cape Fear Hospice. He was 93.
Kelly was born in Wilmington on Aug. 22, 1921. His wife, Isabelle McIlwain Jewell, was at his side for 67 years.
He is survived by his oldest son, Kelly William Jewell IV and his wife Julia Walker Jewell; son, Patrick Smith Jewell and his wife Diana Jewell; daughter, Laura Kim Jewell; grandchildren, Caron, Jesse, Carter, Ann and Isabelle Jewell; great-grandchild, Cassius Jewell; and brother, Edwin Smith Jewell and his wife Emma Jewell, all of Wilmington.
Kelly attended Tileston School and graduated from New Hanover High School in 1938. He spent his school months on Church Street and his summers on Wrightsville Beach and down Masonboro Loop Road with his aunts and uncles. After graduation, he attended N.C. State University, where he ran track before being drafted in 1941. He served with the 391st Signal Unit, stationed in North Africa and Italy.
He came back to Wilmington in 1945 and worked for the Atlantic Coastline from 1948 to 1961. He started the Interfaith Kindergarten while running Kelly Jewell Real Estate. He was past president of the Wilmington Historical Society, where he actively restored several houses. He was also active in the Thalian Association, performing in several musicals. At age 74, he moved a pre-Civil War house from Ivanhoe to Wilmington, where he and his wife resided.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015 at Andrews Mortuary, Market Street Chapel. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015, at St. Andrews Covenant Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Andrews Mortuary.
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