Kenneth Edward Kelsey (Ken), 89, of Pittston, died at the Togus VA Hospice unit on March 30 from Advanced Alzheimer’s and pneumonia. Kenneth was born at the old hospital in Damariscotta on Oct. 27, 1925, a son of Ernest E. and Flora (Kelsey) Kelsey of Clarks Cove, South Bristol.
Ken attended the Gladstone School, a one-room schoolhouse in Walpole, part of South Bristol for his first eight grades. He graduated from Lincoln Academy in Newcastle in 1943, having taken the agricultural course. He worked for Round Top Farms in Damariscotta in the creamery and picked up and delivered milk to various towns and islands before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force Aug. 29, 1945, getting his training in Biloxi, Miss. He was transferred to the U.S. Air Force Base in Wiesbaden, Germany where he worked for the postal department. While in Germany he was able to visit England, France, and Switzerland. He received the Army of Occupation Medal and WWII Victory Medal.
After he returned from the service in 1947 as a corporal, he began his career at the U.S. VA, starting as a clothing clerk and retiring in 1980 as assistance chief of the Administrative Division.
Throughout his adult life, Ken took on a second job house painting, shoveling snow, etc. He took a two year night course in accounting at Gates Business College in Augusta and obtained his degree.
He married Isabelle Eva Hagar, of Damariscotta Mills, Oct. 27, 1948. They had three children, Brenda Griffin, Darlene Parker and Carolyn Belanger.
They bought a poultry farm in Pittston in 1956 which they operated for eight years.
Ken’s love of golf kept him busy in any free time he had. He was a charter member of the old Meadow Hill Golf Club in Farmingdale where he spent many happy hours with his buddies. He caddied when he was growing up at the Wawenock Country Club in Walpole. He also loved to skate, cross country ski, hunt and garden. His sweet peas were lovely and were given to lucky ladies in the neighborhood.
He loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and summer or winter, he could be seen giving them a ride on his tractor or in a cart behind, or pushing them in their swings. He kept his lawns beautifully tended and was often complimented by friends and neighbors. He was a retired member of the Pittston Fire Department and was a member of the local Mason.
Kenneth was predeceased by an infant brother, Leon; brother, Thurlow and wife Pauline; and mother and father.
He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Isabelle Hagar Kelsey; children, Brenda and husband Daniel of Bellingham, Mass., Darlene Parker of West Gardiner, and Carolyn and husband Gary of Gardiner; grandchildren, Jennifer Bailey and husband Erin, and Shawn Belanger and wife Veronica; and great-grandchildren, Sierra and Dylan Bailey.
Graveside services are planned for a spring burial at Riverside Cemetery in Pittston.
Condolences may be sent to www.staplesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the care of Staples Funeral Home 53, Brunswick Ave., Gardiner.
