Donald Gene Kelley served in the United States Air Force for four years during the Korean War performing aircraft maintenance. In 1954, while in the Air Force, Don was stationed in the Marshall Islands where he was a reluctant participant in testing the hydrogen bomb.

Once he was out of the Air Force he attended college at Arizona State University to complete a Master's degree in Manufacturing Engineering. Don was later hired as an Assistant Professor of Engineering at ASU. He earned tenure and advanced to Associate Professor and later to Full Professor. After his retirement from ASU,

Don spent his time volunteering with Rotary, helping to found humanities organizations, traveling, and enjoying retirement.

Don was predeceased by his five siblings, as well as his wife Norma, a son, and a great-granddaughter. He is survived by his four other children, as well as 12 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren.

Services were held on September 9, 2023. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Homeless Outreach project with ASU Project Humanities (www.projecthumanities.asu.edu), an organization Don felt strongly about.