She loves to work

Surrounded by family and friends, Virginia A. Leach Kelly Wylie celebrated her 102nd birthday, here only regret is that because of her legs, she can’t work and help others.

“I just wish the Lord would heal my legs,” said Mrs. Wylie at her birthday party. “I could be pushing these buggies around. I like to work. But, I guess He knew I needed to sit on my butt.”

Born in Cincinnati, Ark., a suburb of Siloam Springs, on March 21, 1911, Virginia A. Leach has outlived two husbands.

She married William Kelly Oct. 21, 1927. She and Bill lived in Rogers and were the owner/operators of Kelly’s Neon Sign Co. until his death in 1953 from a car accident.

They were married over 25 years and had six children - four daughters, Dorothy Kelly Parker (deceased), Marge Kelly Hensley of Tulsa Okla., Barbara Kelly of Bentonville and Linda Kelly of Broken Arrow, Okla.; and two sons, Jack Kelly of Pea Ridge and William (Sonny) Kelly of Bullhead City, Nevada.

A few years later, Mrs. Kelly married Joseph Wylie, a Minnesota dairy farmer, and they were happily married for many years residing in California. When he retired, they moved to Kingman, Ariz.

Mr. Wylie passed away in 2000 and Virginia moved to Pea Ridge to live with her son Jack and his wife Irene for awhile.

News, Pages 1 on 03/27/2013