David Gerald Kelley

Born Oct. 11, 1928, in Riverside, California, he graduated from the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, California, in 1947. He studied citrus production at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, piloting C-82 and C-119 transport planes during the Berlin Airlift and postwar reconstruction, while stationed at Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Germany. For over 40 years, David was a dedicated citrus rancher in Hemet and an influential voice in agricultural policy. He served as President of the Riverside County Farm Bureau and on the Hemet–San Jacinto Basin Resource Conservation District board.

Elected to the California State Assembly in 1978 and later the State Senate, David served the state for over two decades, championing water conservation, environmental protection, and sustainable agriculture. A stretch of Route 86 was named the “Senator David G. Kelley Highway” in his honor.

He married Brigitte in 1953, and together they raised four children in Hemet. He is survived by Sharon Haupt, Bridget Kelley, Margaret Valine (Rod), and Kenneth Kelley (Suzy), as well as 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Brigette, and grandson Sami.

Even in retirement, David remained active on his farm and served as an Emeritus Trustee of the Army and Navy Academy. His life reflected a deep commitment to service, rooted in family and the land he loved.

The family requests privacy at this time. A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, October 25 at 11am at the Western Science Center in Hemet, California. Donations in his name can be made to the Western Science Center through their website wscmuseumstore.com or mailed to 2345 Searl Parkway, Hemet, CA 92596.