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Kelly, Noel C.
Noel C. Kelly, 81, of Ojai, Calif., beloved husband of Janice Rae Kelly, passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 4, 2010, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born April 26, 1929, in Wayne, S.D., the youngest of 14 born to Mary Ellen and Edward Joseph Kelly.
Noel graduated from St. Patrick's High School in Cedar Rapids in 1947, and went on to earn his degree at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force at Darmstadt, Germany during the Korean conflict, where he developed a strong interest in aviation and aeronautical technology that led to his passion for recreational flying. He obtained his pilot's license and logged 2,200 hours as a private pilot.
Noel retired from Abex Aerospace in Oxnard in 1993.
He was well-known in Ventura County for his F1-50 Farmall tractor that he restored and proudly rode annually in the Ventura St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Ojai Fourth of July Parade and the Ventura County Fair Parade. He was proud of his Irish heritage and very large extended family. There were many Kelly Clan reunions celebrated over the years that he enjoyed. He was an excellent husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, and was well loved and embraced by his community. Noel's love for jokes, funny stories and humor made his personality larger than life and one-of-a-kind. He will be missed by everyone who loved him.
He is survived by his children, Michael Patrick Kelly, Christie Ann Kelly Fortney and Cynthia Ellen Kelly Young; daughter-in-law, Karen Harmon Kelly; son-in-law, Todd Young; grandchildren, Kate Elizabeth Kelly and Kimberly Casey Kelly of Ellensburg, Wash., and Maxance La Chance McManany of Templeton, Calif., and Teal Taylor Young of Silver Strand Beach, Calif.; and sisters, Bernadine Novotny of Susanville, Calif., and Virginia Cashman of Santa Barbara, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jan Kelly in February 2010; and son-in-law, Marcel Fortney of Templeton, in 2007.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3150 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura, Calif.
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