Edwin Carl Kelch

Edwin Kelch, age 104, of Fredericksburg,Virginia, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026. Edwin was born on April 20, 1921, to Albert William Kelch and Katherine Follett Kelch. He was raised in Ravena, New York, where he developed a lifelong love of music, especially the trumpet. He graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York, and went on to build a long career as an Electrical Engineer, working primarily for the Department of Agriculture. Outside of his professional life, Edwin found great joy in music. He spent many years playing trumpet in community bands and proudly performed for several years with the Washington Redskins Band. Edwin later moved from the Washington/DC/Maryland area to Glendale, AZ, where he resided most of his retirement years. In retirement, he remained active and engaged in the things he loved most—his church community, woodworking, and traveling. His final 4 years were spent at Chancellors Village, Fredericksburg, where he made many friends and enjoyed numerous activities. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy, his second wife, Kathy, and his daughter, Joan. Edwin is survived by his children, Barbara McIntee, Kim Keena, Craig Arnold, and Gary Kelch, 17 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. Edwin will be remembered for his love of music, his dedication to family, and a life that spanned more than a century of remarkable change and history. His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched.