Richard George Kelly, 80, of Denton, Texas, formerly of Macungie, died peacefully June 4, 2013, at Emerus Hospital, in the compassionate care of Hospice and surrounded by the love of his family after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was the husband of Jerian Gelbert Kelly. They would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary June 27. Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late Paul Ishmael Kelly and Helen Estelle Goldman Kelly.

He graduated from Moravian College, Bethlehem, on a full scholarship.

"Pop" was larger than life, filling any room he entered with his presence, his sense of humor, and his stories of his hometown of Macungie. As a chemical salesman, he crisscrossed the country and could tell you where to sleep, eat and get a good drink in any town in America.

He moved his family to Denton, Texas in 1976, where the Kellys flourished. From having a Christmas tree lot that first year in his front yard to his last wild card trip to Las Vegas in the summer of 2011 (where he paid cash for an old Lincoln Towncar with over 200,000 miles on it, dubbing it "The Beast," and then driving it all the way home!). He always experienced life to the fullest. Like his stories, he went from flush to bust and back again, and he overcame a host of illnesses throughout his 80 years, even beating cancer to buy another precious year with his devoted family.

When cancer proved too much for his weakened body, he went on his terms with no surrender, but rather with a conscious decision to abandon this shell and set off on a new adventure.

He was called "The King of all Pop Pops"and so he shall remain, for all time.

He is survived by his wife; children, Brian Lloyd, Timothy Paul, Jeannie Falvey, Amanda Stanley and Rebecca Boardman; grandchildren; and one great-grandchild due at Thanksgiving. He was predeceased by sisters, Elizabeth Lemke and Barbara Alexy.

Memorials may be made to M.D. Anderson's Children's Cancer Hospital, Houston, Texas or to the American Alzheimer's Association.