John Edward McKelvey

Portrait of John Edward McKelvey Headstone Photograph

Full Name: John Edward McKelvey
Location: Section:Patriots' Hill, Section 2 (A)
Row:J  Number:16
Reason for Eligibility: Chairman, Veterans Affairs Commission 
Birth Date: April 18, 1915 
Died: December 2, 2004 
Burial Date: December 4, 2004 
 

MCKELVEY, JOHN EDWARD (1915~2004) John Edward McKelvey, 30-year chairman of the Texas Veterans Commission, was born April 18, 1915, in Butler, Pennsylvania, the oldest of four sons of Charles and Catherine (Murrin) McKelvey. The family moved to Texas when John was four years old. Graduating from McGargle High School, John earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from St. Edward's University in Austin and his L.L.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He practiced law for over 50 years from his office in Electra, Texas, and served over 30 years as Chairman of the Texas Veterans Commission. During World War II, John was a Major in the U.S. Air Force, flying as pilot of the B-24 bomber in the Pacific war zone. He is the only Texas veteran known, thus far, to have served as State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, as well as State Commander of the American Legion.

John died December 2, 2004, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease and heart disease and is survived by his wife, Joyce (Fails-Salm) McKelvey; and six children and stepchildren: Michele Davison and her husband John, and their sons John Howard and Brian; Susan Johnson and her daughters, Veronica and Jackie; Portia Hausmann, her husband Allan, and their son Hunter; Priscilla McKelvey and her daughter Kayden; Linda Beene and her husband Ken; and Louis C. Salm, III, and his wife Patricia.

Information taken from: obituary, Austin American-Statesman, December 3, 2004.

Notes:

#8821) Served on the commission from 1957-1987.
Entered by Administrator on 2/1/1998 12:11:27 PM

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