Lyda M. Rush Kelley, 101, was born July 29, 1917, in London, Kentucky, one of twelve children of Joseph and Nannie McDaniel Rush. She attended school in London but was required stay home to help with her family after her mother became ill. Lyda would often accompany her parents in their horse-drawn wagon from London to Corbin, Kentucky to deliver chickens, eggs, milk and vegetables to Colonel Harlan Sanders for his restaurant. On June 20, 1942, she was married in Lexington, Kentucky, to Paul Robert Kelley who died March 7, 1993. Lyda retired as an inspector from Ford Electronics in 1978 after 33 years of employment. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and was a twenty year member of the Ford Retirees Club. Lyda enjoyed camping, boating and skiing with her family. Crocheting and knitting were her favorite past times.
Lyda is survived by several nieces, nephews and their spouses, including: her caretaker, Linda Rush Frye and her partner, William Davis; Lyda Rush Huber and Don, Richard Robbins, Randy Robbins, Mary Alice Roberts and Clyde, all of Connersville; Shirley Enlow of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; Ron Rush and Susan, Danny Rush and Jeannie, all of Gulf Port, Florida; Evelyn Santorini of Rowan Mountain, Tennessee; sister-in-laws, including: Virginia Luecke of Connersville, Juanita Rush of Gulf Port, Florida; great-nieces and nephews including: Lisa Bare Neal and her husband, Greg of Connersville and Leslie Bare of Florida.
In addition to her parents and husband of over 40 years, Lyda was preceded in death by her siblings: Everett, Sam, Walter, Earl, Oscar and Leslie Rush; Lettie Well, Bessie Wegman, Virgie Edwards, Maudie Robbins, Laura Bare; nieces and nephews, including: Don Bare, whom Lyda raised following the death of his parents; Jeremy Rush and Eileen Lainhart.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 26, 2018, by Pastor Mal Gibson at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery, section B. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 25, 2018. For additional information and features, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.