SSGT DALE J. KELLY

RICHMOND – SSGT Dale J. Kelly Jr., 48, heroically lost his life in battle in Iraq May 6, 2006, after his convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device. Dale has gone to sit at the feet of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was born Nov. 30, 1957, to Barbara (Fitzpatrick) and Private Dale Kelly, in Stuttgart, Germany, where his father was serving in the Army during the Cold War. Shortly after graduating from Cranston High School, he joined the Rhode Island Air National Guard 143 Tactical Airlift Group as a loadmaster. While serving the first nine years of his military career, he met and married his soulmate, Nancy Cabral, also a member of the 143rd Tactical Airlift Group. They were married Dec. 20, 1980, at the Church of the Transfiguration in Cranston, R.I. They renewed their vows and everlasting love at their 25th wedding anniversary Dec. 17, 2005, shortly before his deployment to Iraq. Dale, a faithful and loving husband, devoted father, brother, son and nephew, spiritual leader and leader of men, will be remembered most for his uncanny ability to use humor as a tool through all difficult situations and his willingness to rise to any occasion God placed before him. He navigated his way through life’s hardships burying a son, a father, two grandfathers and two grandmothers, as well as all of the day to day hardships of living a humble middle-class life. He lived life one day at a time and would always start his morning with a prayer that God would direct his thoughts and actions. Every life he touched from the scouting world, to the work environment at BIW, to his church, St. Pauls in Brunswick, to the Recovery Community, to the soldiers he served with in two states and two branches of the armed forces and to his family, friends and neighbors, all were enriched by his presence. This is a loss to many but a reminder to all, to hold dear to us what is important, to live our lives as sober, believing, obedient men and women and to Ascend to Victory in all situations to the glory of a power much greater than us. Dale is survived by his wife of 25 years, Nancy L. Kelly of Richmond; three children, Julie Trainor and her husband, Will, of Norridgewock, Christopher Kelly of Hallowell and Jennifer Huppe and her husband, Michel, of Brewer; three grandchildren, Alexis Trainor of Yarmouth and Emileigh and Elizabeth Trainor of Norridgewock; his siblings, Kathleen Kelly Sullivan and her husband, John E. “Jay” and their son, Jack of Narragansett, R.I., David H. Kelly and his wife, Trisha, and their son, Dawson of Warwick, R.I., Barbara Wheaton and her husband, J. Timothy and their children, Matthew, Lindsay and Bennett of Yarmouth, Joseph Kelly and his companion, Dawn Altman and his children, Brittany and Cameron of St. Petersburg, Fla. and Kristen Kelly Ciambrone and her husband, William and their sons, William and Jason of Ashland, Mass.; his mother, Barbara Kelly of Cranston, R.I.; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and all of his family of friends of Bill W. He is predeceased by his son, Michael John Kelly; his father, Dale J. Kelly Sr.; and survived by his father’s wife, Jan Kelly of Cranston, R.I.; grandparents, James H. and Florence Kelly and Hugh W. and Barbara Fitzpatrick. Visitation will be held 5-8 p.m. Thursday, May 18 and 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 19, at The Fortin Group Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 217 Turner St., Auburn. A military funeral will be held to honor Dale’s sacrifice for our country 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 27 Pleasant St., Brunswick. Interment will follow at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. In memory of Dale and his service to his country, the family requests that any donations made in his memory be in the form of supplies and support for our troops who are still in Iraq, fighting the war that Dale believed in and gave his life to support. Make checks payable to 3/172 Mountain Infantry Company, 133 Elm St., Brewer, ME 04412. Those wishing to send tributes and watch Moving Memories may do so at www.mem.com.