Courtland - Robert Francis Kello of Courtland, VA, born August 1, 1928, passed away April 10, 2015. Mr. Kello graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1949 and was drafted into the U.S. Army as a Lt. He rose to the rank of Captain and served in the Korean War in the Twenty-fifth Infantry Division: Tropic Lightning, Korea, 1950-1953, at Camp Zama, Japan; Iron Triangle and Heartbreak Ridge, Korea serving 15 months on the front lines. His career took him to North Carolina where he settled in Salisbury, NC until he retired as vice president of operations for Service America in 1990. Known as a true, southern gentleman, Mr. Kello was a vestry member and lay reader in the Episcopal Church, and was active in civic groups including Rotary Club, Toastmasters Club and Industrial Management Council. He was named Industrial Man of the Year in 1979-80 and Vendor of the Year by the NC Vending Association in 1966. After his retirement, he helped found the Southampton County Agriculture Museum in Courtland, VA. Mr. Kello enjoyed woodworking, making lake-worthy cruisers, ski boats, skis, any many bluebird houses that adorn posts and trees around Courtland's fields.

Mr. Kello was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Mary Townsend Rivers Kello, his parents, Edith Lee Johnson Kello and James Richard Kello, Jr., his brother, James Richard Kello, III and his grandparents, Mariah Thomas Vaughn Kello and James Richard Kello, CSA Army. He is survived by his four children, Robert Francis Kello, Jr. and wife, Kevyn Kirby Kello of St. Johns, FL, twin daughters, Edith Townsend Kello of Mooresville, NC and Constance Simms Kello Berardinis, and husband, Roger of Mt. Pleasant, SC and Malcolm Owens Kello and partner, William Randall of Newland, NC and two sisters, Glynn Kello Parker of Courtland and Mariah Kello Nunn of Galax. Mr. Kello has four grandchildren, Mary Stephanie Lee Decker, Elizabeth Townsend Duty, John Kinloch Rivers Duty and Stephen McClure Duty and five great-grandchildren. We want to give special recognition for Rayford's Quality Care, for their devotion and exceptional care for Mr. Kello for over two years.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 12, from 7-9pm at Wright Funeral Home, 206 W. 4th Ave, Franklin, VA. The funeral service will be conducted on Monday at 11am at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Courtland, VA with The Rev. James W. Browder III officiating. Burial will follow in the Kello Family Cemetery at Rose Hill. Memorials may be made to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 156, Courtland, VA 23837; or American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060-9979. Wright Funeral Home in Franklin, VA is in charge of arrangements. www.wrightfuneralhome.org