David Robert Kelley

David Robert Kelley, born on February 5, 1948, passed on April 26, 2026, leaving his family, friends and everyone who loved him grieving the loss of the best man we’ve ever known. Husband, Dad, Pop-Pop, Big Dave, friend, helper. Proud Kenzo, Vietnam Veteran and Philly sports fan. Dave was generous, compassionate, opinionated, a comedian, the king of sarcasm and one of a kind.

Dave attended Mastbaum Vocational High School and spent two years in the military, after he was drafted into the Army and was sent to the Vietnam War in 1968: A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry. He spent one year in Vietnam, earning many medals and honors for bravery. It took him many years to speak about the war. He was injured in combat and returned home just in time to marry the love of his life, Bea, in April of 1969. His entire leg was in a cast but Dave wanted to walk down the aisle to his bride, so he cut his cast off, in true Dave fashion.

He joined the Insulators Local 14 and spent over 56 years in that union.

Dave loved The Beatles and Bob Dylan and his favorite song was Yellow Submarine.

Dave had a deep love for the Kensington neighborhood where he was born, raised and where he raised his family with Bea, his wife of 57 years. He came back to Kensington years after moving to Northeast Philly, to give back to his old neighborhood with his wife and his daughter Lisa. He loved volunteering at the Kensington Storefront, an art studio on the corner of Kensington and Somerset, where his daughter worked as an artist. He would meet and talk with people and tell them stories of the Kensington of his youth. He especially connected with the quiet guys and the veterans and could be seen doing crossword puzzles, sweeping the sidewalk and refusing hugs. And always always joking around.

Dave and Bea had a trailer for many years at Beachcomber Campground in Cape May, where their son David and his family also camped. David, Maria, Jack and Davyn spent many summers with him, fishing and barbecuing. His other grandchildren, Sean and Malayna, would visit often and enjoyed riding around on the golf cart with pop-pop. Two of his favorite places were the beach and the boardwalk, and he would take the grandkids there several times each summer. He loved going on the log flume with his grandkids and complaining about it afterwards.

He attended many of Sean’s basketball games and enjoyed heckling all the players. He liked taking the players out for food afterwards to talk about the game.

Dave was so proud of his family. He is survived by his best friend and wife, Bea, his children Lisa (Jimmy) and David (Maria). and his sister-in-law Michele (Pat) who was like a daughter to him. He doted on his grandchildren, Malayna, Jack and Davyn, his nephew Sean (Alyssa, Vaida) who was like a grandson, and Artie (Kashton), who Dave always loved and supported.

There are no words to convey how much our Big Dave will be missed and what a huge void he leaves in our lives and in the world.

Services will be private at Washington Crossing National Cemetery.

Donations in Dave’s name can be made to one of his favorite non-profits, Philly Unknown. https://givebutter.com/outreachprograms