Robert. P. Kelly
OBITUARY
Robert P. Kelly, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at the age of 91. He was born in Ambler, Pennsylvania, as the youngest son of Edward J Kelly Sr. and Rose Scanlan Kelly. He was predeceased by his brothers, Edward J, Kelly Jr. and Gregory, W Kelly.
After high school at LaSalle prep, he attended the University of Notre Dame for one year before transferring to Villanova University, where he graduated in 1956. After college, he joined his brothers working at their father‘s new car dealership. His father was a Plymouth and De Soto dealer who successfully survived the Great Depression and the Second World War. After having a disagreement with their father over the direction and operation of the dealership, the Kelly brothers struck out on their own in 1959. Bob went to work for the insurance company, Connecticut General for the next few years before the brothers could get the money together to buy their first dealership in Conshohocken, PA in 1963.
In the interim Bob married Margaret McGinn in 1960 and they had four children from 1961 to 1969.
The Kelly brothers came to the Lehigh Valley in 1967 buying a Ford dealership on 17th and Tilghman Streets in Allentown.
Over the next two decades, they expanded their business to Jacksonville, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Melbourne, Florida, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, while they grew their footprint in the Lehigh Valley. Bob and his brothers ended up being partners for over 50 years before their sons purchased their dealerships.
Bob remained an investor in several dealerships and became Chairman of the board of advisors for The Kelly Automotive Group up until the last year of his life.
He gave his children and grandchildren every opportunity to succeed in life, work, and golf. His favorite activity was playing golf with his friends, sons, and grandsons.
On top of the support he provided his family he was a mentor to many in the automotive world and set the example on how to operate a successful and ethical business.
He was a quietly generous man who would help those in need on top of the 50+ causes he supported annually in Pennsylvania, Florida and beyond.
He was pre-deceased by his wife, Margaret and survived by his children, Gregory (Lorraine), Susan (Thomas), Robert Jr, Timothy (Melanie), former daughter in law, Alicia Kelly, ten grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Services: Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation on Monday, March 16th, from 11:00 to 12:30PM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:30 PM all at Assumption of The BVM Catholic Church, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem. Arrangements Entrusted to JAMES FUNERAL HOME, Bethlehem. More info at www.jamesfuneralhome.org.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to: DeSales University, C/O President’s Office, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley, PA 18034.