Joseph John McKelvie

Joseph J. McKelvie, 99, died on April 19 in Las Vegas, NV. A conductor with the Reading Railroad in Philadelphia for 36 years, he served in the US Army during World War II and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Southern France and crossing the Rhine into Germany.

Born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, Mr. McKelvie was raised in the Tacony and Nicetown neighborhoods of Philadelphia, PA, and was a longtime resident of Warminster. He also maintained a home in Bradenton, FL.

Mr. McKelvie was a founder and trustee of the Reading Retired Veteran Employees Association. He also was a member of the W.K. Bray Masonic lodge in Hatboro and the Richboro V.F.W. post.

His father, John McKelvie; mother, Anna McKelvie; brother, William; and sister, Olive Jane Ryan; predeceased him. Twice widowed, Mr. McKelvie was married to Alverta D. McKelvie (nee Gomeringer), who died in 1987, and Beatrice Stalker McKelvie, who died in 2005. He is survived by his son, John J. McKelvie, and daughter-in-law, Marguerite T. McKelvie (nee Trautz), of Las Vegas.

A remembrance service and interment will be held on June 11 at 11 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church, 2119 Old Welsh Road (Rt. 611 and Welsh Rd.), Abington, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Pennsylvania SPCA or a local animal shelter.