Burden - Dwight Leroy Kelley, 90, died August 30, 2013 at William Newton Memorial Hospital in Winfield. He was born on July 19, 1923 in Grenola, the son of Thadeous (Roy) and Versie (Davis) Kelley.

Dwight moved with his family to Burden where his father worked in the Eastman oil field as a tooldresser, later moving to Winfield. Mr. Kelley attended Winfield schools, graduating from Winfield High School in 1943. He was employed at Burt print shop and at the Winfield Courier during his high school years. He also set pins at the bowling alley and was an usher at Niles Theater. After graduating, he was drafted into the Air Force, taking gunnery training at Lowery Field and Harlington Air Base in Texas. He met his crew at the Tonapah Air Base in Nevada where he flew with the new crew in training in B-24's. They took the southern route to South America and Africa on to England to the 34th Bomb Group, 7th Bomb Squadron at Armored. He was a tail gunner on B-24's and later onB-17's airplanes. He was a decorated EAME with 4 Bronze Stars, the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Over Sea Bar, and Good Conduct Medal. After returning to the states, he worked in the pay roll section at Amarillo, Texas, where he was discharged in October of 1945.

After his service, the returned working at the Courier in the job printing department. In 1947, he moved back to Burden where he worked for The Burden Times. In 1964, he moved to Wichita and worked in the commercial printing department for 22 years, retiring in 1987.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 10, the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Arkansas City, the Eighth Air Force Historical Society, the 34th Bomb Group H Association, founding member of the American Air Museum in Duxford, England, and the South East Lions Club in Wichita.

Dwight is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Isabelle Motley of Carthage, Missouri and Mrs.Kitty Wright and husband, Everett of Montezuma; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, John, Dail, and Gail; and two sisters, Genevieve Marintcsh and Jean Haines.

Graveside service will be held at Highland Cemetery in Winfield on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at 1:00 PM with military rites. There will be no public visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Kansas Honor Flight for World War II Veterans in care of Swaim Funeral Chapel - PO Box 421 - Montezuma, Kansas 67867. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.