OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Colonel Paul Kelly, 82, of Ocean Park, was “Promoted to Glory” on Sept. 10, 2015, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.

He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1933. the son of John and Lina Lee Wilson Kelly.

Colonel Kelly was a graduate of Hughes High School in Cincinnati in 1951 and later graduated from The Salvation Army College for Officers in 1953, and Bloomfield University in Bloomfield, New Jersey with a degree in sociology in 1977.

In 1982, Colonel Kelly testified before the Congressional Committee for Homelessness and the Vectors of Pittsburgh named him The Religious Man of the Year in 1994 for his pastoral role in the U.S. Air Flight 427 disaster. He also served on the board of directors for the National Commission on Morality in Media.

He enjoyed genealogy, biblical history and archeology .

Colonel Kelly and his wife, Jean, made Clearwater, Florida their home following his retirement in 1998 as a Salvation Army officer.

He is preceded in death by a granddaughter.

Survivors include: his wife, Virginia Jean Kelly; three sons, Paul M. Kelly Jr. and his wife Sharon Miller, David E. Kelly and his wife Naomi Foster and Stephen M. Kelly and his wife Leanne Whitacre; a daughter, Marcia Jean Cocker and her husband James; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held on Sept. 27 at 3 p.m. at The Salvation Army Corps. 2 Church St., Old Orchard Beach, Maine 04064. A later service will be held in Clearwater following his wife’s return home.

A private burial will be at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Deering Park, Saco.

For those wishing to make memorial contributions please, consider The Salvation Army, 2 Church St., Old Orchard Beach, Maine 04064.

Arrangements are handled by Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral and Cremation Services, 365 Main St., Saco, Maine 04072.