Robert Patrick Kelly

Robert P. Kelly passed away suddenly on Sunday, December 25, 2022. Bob was born on October 14, 1934, in Middleboro, Massachusetts to John (Jack) and Elizabeth (Gilbride) Kelly both Irish immigrants. His family moved to California in 1946. Bob was a graduate of Loyola University in Los Angeles, California. After graduating, Bob began a lifetime career with Price Waterhouse where he became a partner in 1969. He worked in the tax practice of the Los Angeles, Phoenix and Washington, DC offices. Bob remained an active member of Price Waterhouse even in retirement with the creation of a retired partner group which met quarterly for the past 30 years. Price Waterhouse also brought Bob and his wife of 62 years together. He married Helen Eileen Kelly on October 8, 1960, in Los Angeles, California. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1961 and to McLean, Virginia in 1973, but Phoenix remained an important community in their lives. Family was everything to Bob – he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He was the foundation of his family. He was a kind and humble man with a genuine interest in others. He picked up the phone regularly to check on his kids, grandkids, and friends. And he loved a good joke or funny story and is well known for his sense of humor. His best audience was his late wife, Eileen. He loved the outdoors whether walking, golfing, working in his yard. He was a long-time member of both Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, and Paradise Valley Country Club in Arizona. He was blessed with a large network of friends and a busy social life. He was his neighborhood’s unofficial mayor -- he knew everyone’s name, and everyone knew him. Bob’s faith was important to him. He was long-time member of St Luke Catholic parish and held leadership roles with Catholic Charities of Arlington Diocese and Marymount University. Bob is survived by his children Colleen Cibula of Germantown, Maryland; Francine (Peter) Gilbert of Lexington, Kentucky; and Robert P. (Shawn) Kelly, Jr of Alexandria, Virginia; his grandchildren Lindsey and Jack Cibula; Nicholas and Meredith Gilbert and Katherine (Jack) Shaffer; Charleston, Declan, and Robert P. Kelly, III; his brothers John Kelly of Northridge, California and Ray (Cindy) Kelly of Altadena, California and numerous nieces and nephews. Proceeding him in death are his wife, Eileen Kelly, his parents and his son-in-law David Cibula. Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, Virginia 22101 at 11:00 AM with visitation beginning at 10:15 AM. Burial will follow Mass at Columbia Gardens Cemetery, 3411 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201. A celebration of Bob’s life will follow the burial at Washington Golf and Country Club, 3017 North Glebe Road, Arlington, Virginia 22207. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington (P.O. Box 1900, Merrifield, Virginia 22116-1900 or at www.ccda.net). Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.murphyfuneralhomes.com for the Kelly family.