Kelly Roberts Rawlings

Middletown...Kelly Roberts Rawlings, 95, longtime Mechanicsburg resident, passed away July 24, 2011 at Community Hospital in Anderson.He was born in Owensville, Ky, June 11, 1916, the son of Willie Clay and Lola Myers Rawlings in a log cabin.He was a 1935 graduate of Kennard High School and was a member of the varsity baseball and basketball teams.He was drafted by the US Army in 1942 and served his country until 1946 serving as a surgical technician in a field hospital in Okinawa.He worked at Chrysler Corporation in New Castle after his discharge.On June 15, 1952, he married Virginia Judd of Orestes and together they owned and operated Rawlings and Son Grocery in Mechanicsburg for 15 years. He also worked at the Indiana Reformatory in Pendleton in the Athletic Department for 15 years. He had many friends there inncluding inmates.He loved his family, gardening, music, sports, Purdue basketball and the St. Louis Cardinals.He was the oldest member of the Sixth Street Christian Church in Middletown and was Deacon Emeritus.He enjoyed 30 years of retirement.Survivors include his wife of 59 years: Virginia of Mechanicsburg, 1 son: James E. Rawlings (Sarah) of Lafayette and 1 daughter: Brenda J. Wilcox (Pete) of Orange, CA, 2 granddaughters: Karah Rawlings (Kevin Smith) of Lafayette and Kandi Rawlings (Adam Chudzyorski)of Highland Park, NJ, Great granddaughter: Harriet Ellyn Rawlings of Lafayette, 1 sister: Zora Lee Jordan of St. Simons Island, GA, many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers: Bill and Merle and sister: Mabel.Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 2:00 PM at Ballard and Sons Funeral Home, 118 South 5th, Middletown with Rev. Maynard Powell officiating.Burial will follow in Mechanicsburg Cemetery, near Middletown.Friends may call on Wednesday from 5-8 PM at the funeral home.Memorials may be made to Community Home Heath Services, 9894 East 121st Street, Fishers, IN 46037.