Colin Campbell Kelley, Sr. – Captain, United States Marine Corps

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Colin Campbell Kelley, Sr.

Captain, United States Marine Corps (Retired)
1920 – 2007

Colin Campbell Kelley, Sr., 86, a former United States Marine Corps Captain and civil attorney, died January 31, 2007 in Walnut Creek, California.

Mr. Kelley was born on April 17, 1920 in Riverside, California.  He attended the New Mexico Military Institute, and graduated from Stanford University.

Then-Lieutenant Kelley was a member of the First Marine Division – Weapons Company, in World War II, where he participated in the Pacific invasion of Peleliu Island.  He was promoted to Captain on the battlefield earning a Purple Heart Medal and the Bronze Star Medal for his participation in that heavy battle.

Colin (“Kel” as he was known to his friends) loved the Marine Corps and attended many reunions throughout the years.  His Marine Corps friends meant a lot to him.

After retiring from the Marine Corps, he worked in the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company during the day, and attended Golden Gate Law School at night where he earned his law degree.  He and his family resided in Piedmont, California for many years.  He ran for the State Senate in 1966 in Alameda County, but lost to Nicolas Petris.

His interests and hobbies included current events, reading, politics, genealogy, fishing, sailing, camping, football and rock polishing.  He held leadership positions with The Boy Scouts of America.  His affiliations included the Stanford Athletics Department, the Republican Party, the Magna Charta Barons, the Society of Mayflower Descendants, the Sons of the American Revolution, various masonic organizations, and the Bohemian Club.

He will be remembered for his Irish passion, his morals, his tenacity, his hard work ethic, his clean and corny jokes, as well as his great love of family, the U.S. Marine Corps and Stanford University.

He was preceded in death by his parents, native Californians Neva Campbell Kelley (who spent her childhood in Marshfield, Oregon) and Loyal Claire Kelley, his sister Claire Larsen, his loving wife of 60 years – Doris (“Dody”) Dean Dolan Kelley, and his infant granddaughter, Brittany Grace Colbath.

Colin is survived by his son, Colin Campbell Kelley, Jr. (“Skip”) of Campbell, California, his daughter Catherine (“Katy”) Coleen Kelley Colbath of Concord, California, his daughter Karen Ann Kelley of Hines, Oregon, and his son Kevin Dolan Kelley of San Jose, California.  His grandchildren include Rebecca Kelley Cusey of Simi Valley, California, Dan Colbath of Pleasant Hill, California, and Kelley (“Indy”) Grace Colbath of Pleasant Hill, California, as well as five great grandchildren.

A Hillcrest Community Church memorial service was held on February 3, 2007 in Pleasant Hill, CA.  Internment was on April 19, 2007 in Arlington National Cemetery with military honors.

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