Benton Virgil Kelly, Jr.

Benton Virgil Kelly, Jr., 80, of Buchanan, passed away in his sleep at home on July 12, 2024. Benton was born March 18, 1944, to Benton “Bent” Kelly and Ruby Blair Kelly in Lee County, Virginia. Benton met his wife, Lucille (Baker) Kelly, while serving in the Army and they married in 1967. They have two daughters, Rhonda Kelly and Bennie Finch (married to Evan Finch), and two grandchildren, Emily Finch and Owen Finch.

After “Benny” graduated from Dryden High School, he studied agriculture at Virginia Tech. After serving in the Army in Massachusetts and graduating from Tech, Benton taught high school agriculture for 3 years before leaving to manage a farm in Springwood, Virginia for 16 years. He then worked for Mount Joy Ice and Reddy Ice for 20 years. In retirement, he enjoyed cutting and splitting wood and working on house projects with Lucille. He became very proficient at installing wood floors, replacing the floors in every room of their home, and then moving on to Bennie’s house and church in Connecticut. He and Rhonda enjoyed working on latch hook projects and watching sports together, and Benton loved being a grandfather.

The youngest of five boys, he is survived by his brother, Ted and sister-in-law, Charlene (Big Stone Gap, Virginia) and sisters-in-law Kathy Kelly (Coppers Cove, Texas) and Carrol Kelly (Lowell, Michigan). He is predeceased by his brothers Charles Kelly, Gary Kelly, and Gene Kelly.

Visitation will be held from 1pm-2pm with Services at 2pm at the Buchanan Chapel of Botetourt Funeral Home on Monday, July 15, 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.botetourtfuneralhome.com