Pamela Kesselring Kelley

Pamela Kesselring Kelley, 81, of Houston passed away Monday, August 10, 2026. Pamela was born September 5, 1944 in Baltimore, Maryland to Kenneth and Jane Kesselring. She is survived by her husband Lonny of 54 years of marriage, her four daughters, Molly, Lori (Eustace Henry), Karen (Tom Perkins) and Emily (Craig Lindberg), grandchildren Maggie and Liam (Sherri) McCarley, Tori and Travis (Nicki) Kelley-Henry, Scott and Chad Lindberg and her siblings, Deborah Markham (John), and Rob Kesselring. Pamela grew up in Niskayuna, New York and spent many summers of her childhood on Oneida Lake with her family, grandparents and her favorite dog, Digger. This is where she developed a love of the outdoors, water activities and boating. Pam’s father was General Manager of the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory operated by General Electric in Schenectady, New York where she attended school. Pam earned a degree in microbiology from Syracuse University in 1965. She worked at Upstate Medical Center for a time before having children. Pamela and Lonny met when they were both single parents as a result of misfortunes. They became acquainted at Calvary Episcopal Church in Burnt Hills, New York and decided to marry and combine their families. Pam became a loving and caring mother to four daughters. A major activity during this time was refurbishing a 200-year old farmhouse, which Pam loved. Pam was a history buff and later conducted extensive research on the area during the Revolutionary war period and wrote three historical novels with the house as a centerpiece. When her children were young, Pam spent time snow skiing, sailing on Lake George, gardening and making maple syrup with her family, and leading a 4-H club with her four daughters and their local friends. While in Los Angeles supporting her husband’s extended work assignment there, Pam learned the art of stained glass and made objects for commission. She also designed and created several windows for Calvary Episcopal Church. In 1979, the family moved to Houston, where Pamela worked for 20 years in the accounting department of Spring Branch Independent School District, creating early computer databases of the district’s capital assets. During this time, she was an active member of the Houston Area Chi Omega Alumni Association and taught exercise classes. She was always interested in art and expanded her artistic endeavors as a watercolor artist, creating many beautiful paintings over the course of 25 years. As Pam and Lon approached retirement, the two took up flying and began a three-year project of building an airplane (Lancair ES) in their back yard. With Lon as pilot, Pam was an enthusiastic and able partner and navigator in the right seat. During the next 25 years they made countless trips in their plane across the United States visiting friends and family as well as creating many new adventures for themselves. They loved traveling to the National Parks where they would hike and collect pictures for Pam to paint. Pam and Lon took lengthy ski vacations in Utah and Colorado and made several exciting trips overseas through National Geographic Expeditions, traveling to such places as Fiji, Alaska, South America and Tahiti. Pamela always approached life with a positive outlook and a cheery smile. Everyone that knew Pam loved her. She touched the lives of many people, spending hours volunteering her time with her husband at Texas Children’s Hospital where she demonstrated and taught water color art with children. She was an avid member of Wood Working Club of Houston, where the couple spent many years making wooden toys to support club charitable activities. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 19th, at 10:00 am at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77079 with a reception to follow in Friendship Court. In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church Caring Forever Foundation.

Pamela Kesselring Kelley

September 5, 1944 - August 11, 2026