Benton Virgil Kelly, Jr., 80, of Buchanan, passed away in his sleep at home on July 12, 2024.
Benton was born March 18, 1944, to Benton “Bent” Kelly and Ruby Blair Kelly in Lee County, Va. Benton met his wife, Lucille (Baker) Kelly, while serving in the Army and they married in 1967. They had two daughters, Rhonda Kelly and Bennie Finch (married to Evan Finch), and two grandchildren, Emily Finch and Owen Finch.
After “Benny” graduated from Dryden High School, he studied agriculture at Virginia Tech. After serving in the Army in Massachusetts and graduating from Tech, Benton taught high school agriculture for three years before leaving to manage a farm in Springwood for 16 years. He then worked for Mount Joy Ice and Reddy Ice for 20 years. In retirement, he enjoyed cutting and splitting wood and working on house projects with Lucille. He became very proficient at installing wood floors, replacing the floors in every room of their home, and then moving on to Bennie’s house and church in Connecticut. He and Rhonda enjoyed working on latch-hook projects and watching sports together, and Benton loved being a grandfather.
The youngest of five boys, he is survived by his brother, Ted and sister-in-law Charlene (Big Stone Gap, Va.) and sisters-in-law Kathy Kelly (Coppers Cove, Texas) and Carrol Kelly (Lowell, Mich.). He was predeceased by his brothers Charles Kelly, Gary Kelly, and Gene Kelly.
Visitation was held from 1-2 p.m. with services at 2 p.m. in the Buchanan Chapel of Botetourt Funeral Home on Monday, July 15, 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.botetourtfuneralhome.com.
