Hewett Kelly Grounds, 94, passed away on Monday, October 3, 2022, at Marshall Manor in Guntersville, Alabama. He was predeceased by his parents, Roy M. and Mary Davis Grounds, his wife of 67 years, Dorothy M. Grounds, and his eldest son, Michael K. Grounds.
He was born in Decota, West Virginia on December 16, 1927. Decota was a small coal mining town southeast of Charleston.
He served a short enlistment in the U.S. Naval Reserve at the end of World War II as a shore patrolman in Tsingtao, China, being honorably discharged in August, 1946. He then attended college and graduated from Purdue University in 1954 as an electrical engineer.
He and wife, Dorothy, moved to California where he worked in the aerospace industry with Hughes Aircraft and IBM. He relocated to Huntsville in 1969 while employed by IBM to work on the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs.
After retiring from Nichols Research in 1993, Kelly and Dorothy traveled extensively on cruises and various trips. Destinations included Europe, Greece, China, Egypt, Alaska, and many USA parks.
Survivors include sons, Cameron F. Grounds (Brenda) of Madison, and Christopher B. Grounds (Joni) of Guntersville; grandchildren, Leslie Gruner, Katie Dean, Joseph Grounds, Joshua Grounds, Jessica Grounds, Ashley Miles, and Christy Miles; and great-grandchildren, Jeremy, Casen, Cooper, Ronan, and Emmalyn.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 12 noon Friday, October 7 at Grace Lutheran Church, 3321 S. Memorial Parkway, Huntsville, Alabama, with the service following at the church. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran School, 3321 S. Memorial Parkway, Huntsville, AL 35801.
