Thomas Paul Kelly

Thomas Paul Kelly, 85, passed away peacefully Sunday morning July 26, 2015 at Brookdale Assisted Living Home in Yorba Linda, California. Thomas was born on March 14, 1930 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Paul Jerome Kelly and Mildred Fahey Kelly. Thomas married and had five children with Irene Teresa O'Malley. He is survived by his sister, Frances Norton, daughter Maureen Fry, sons Thomas, Patrick and Jerome, three grandchildren Sean, Sheila and Kevin, and one great-granddaughter Kalea. He is pre-deceased by his wife Irene, sister Anne (Sister Pauline), son Paul, and best friend and long-time companion Helen Ida Jank. Thomas's father passed away when Thomas was only 12 years old. The young Thomas held many jobs, including work at the Scranton Times. He was in the first graduating class of Scranton Prep in 1947 and attended the University of Scranton, where he majored in Accounting. After enlisting to become an officer in the Navy, he married Irene and started a family. In 1958, the family moved from Levittown, New Jersey to Torrance in Southern California, and then in the 60's to Camarillo, briefly to Laurel, Maryland in the early 70's, and finally to Placentia in 1974. Thomas worked as a skilled government contracts negotiator and held many government contracts management positions for major contractors including RCA, Raytheon, Litton Environmental Systems, Litton Ship Systems, Litton Guidance and Control Systems Division, Litton Cancer Research Division, Rockwell International Space Division, PepsiCo Building Systems and Hughes Aircraft Company. Thomas and Irene celebrated their 25th anniversary visiting the counties of their ancestors in Ireland. After retiring from Hughes aircraft in Fullerton, Thomas became a consultant and was eventually teaching college level courses at UC Irvine and was proud of his contribution to major aviation, aerospace and commercial projects such as the LHA, Space Shuttle, Apollo Soyuz, and GPS. He was excited to consult with Prof. Takeo Saitoh of Sendai University in Japan on the Shinla Turbine. After Irene's passing in 2005, Thomas met his best friend and companion, Helen Ida Jank and they started a new life together. From the moment they met they were inseparable. Together they loved going to Laguna Beach or Palm Springs. They liked to watch TV and retire early to listen to the old songs on the music channel, or watch the news or game shows. Tragically, Helen passed away almost a year ago to the day in 2014. Services will be held at Pope John Paul II Catholic church in Yorba Linda on Monday, August 3rd. Address: 3999 Rose Dr, Yorba Linda, CA 92886. There will be a Rosary at 9:30 AM followed by mass at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Sisters of IHM Retirement Fund: IHM Center 2300 Adams Avenue Scranton, PA 18509-1598.