Raymond Hardy Kelsey, Sr.

Raymond Hardy Kelsey Sr., 81, departed this life on Monday, April 25, 2011 to join his parents, Philander and Ruby Kelsey, his brothers, Philander Jr., Franklin and Milton and sisters, Libby Welchlin, Jean Palmer and Lucille Gee of Farmville.

Mr. Kelsey was born on September 16, 1929. He was dedicated to his family and to Appomattox P.E. Presbyterian Church, Prospect, where he served as an elder and trustee. As the family moved he transferred to Appomattox C.H. Presbyterian Church in Appomattox, First Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg and First Presbyterian in Sparta, Tennessee before returning back to Appomattox P.E.
He trained teenage boys at the Presbyterian Home in Lynchburg under the direction of the late Dr. Bernard Bain in the 1960's. He was on the Board of Directors of the Federal Land Bank in Prince Edward County. In the 1970's he moved his family to Sparta, Tennessee to run a farm with his brother Milton. He was proud to gather stone from the mountains of Tennessee from which he and son Hardy used to build the family a new home in Prospect.
His interest in Hampden-Sydney College basketball began when his oldest son, Philander, was a team member from 1976-1979. He and his family continued to follow the H-SC basketball program and enjoyed the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament.
Besides HSC basketball, he loved being with his wife, children and grandchildren and following their progress in school and sports. He was a dedicated truck driver for P.L. Duncan & Sons in Columbia and he loved to watch his tobacco grow in the Tuggle area.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia Simpson "Peggy" Kelsey; two sons, Philander Kelsey of Rancho Cucamonga, CA and Raymond Hardy Kelsey Jr. and wife, Cathy of Prospect; two daughters, Karen Lou Aimesbury of Dover, NH, and Kimberley Anne Shumaker and husband, Michael of Prospect; seven grandchildren, Eric Simpson Kelsey of Midlothian, Phillip Randall Kelsey and wife, Melissa of Chesterfield, Celena Rae Kelsey of Prospect, Abigail Anne Aimesbury and Andrew Archer Aimesbury of Dover, NH, Debra Sue Shumaker and Darrell Arthur Shumaker of Prospect; a great-grandson, Bryson Philander Kelsey of Chesterfield; a brother, Carl Kelsey of Farmville; five sisters, Ruth Simpson of Prospect, Rachel McBride of Farmville, twin sister Rebecca Newman of Virginia Beach, Helen Breckinridge of Farmville and Nancy Williams of Newport News and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, Apri1 28, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Puckett Funeral Home.
A celebration of Mr. Kelseys life will be held at Appomattox P.E.Presbyterian Church, Prospect, on Friday. Apri1 29 at 3 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Appomattox P.E. Presbyterian Church, Prince Edward County Rescue Squad or the Hampden-Sydney College Roundball Club.