Pamela Jill Kelley
June 28, 1948 ~ June 4, 2025
Pamela Jill Kelley passed away unexpectedly on June 4th, 2025. She was born June 28, 1948 in Columbus to Dr, James Jones and Esther (Wood) Jones Benedict. She married Charles "Charlie" Kelley and he preceded her in death on February 18, 2012.
She graduated from Columbus High School in 1966 and Purdue University in 1970. Jill worked in the accounting department at Arvin from 1971 to 2001 and at IUPUC from 2001 until she retired. Since 1998 she was a dedicated volunteer at Columbus Regional Hospital. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Jill will be remembered by her sly, clever humor, dedication to friends and the love she had for her pets.
She is survived by her sister Nancy (David) Rudolph, a brother Stuart Jones, three nieces and mother-in-law Emily Mabe. Jill was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 21 at Garland Brook Cemetery, Garden of Devotion, with Pastor Tim Carter officiating.
In memory of Jill memorial contributions may be given through the funeral home to the Bartholomew County Humane Society.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home. You are invited to share memories and condolences with Jill’s family via the funeral home website: www.jewellrittman.com.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
I am so grateful that I am able to call you friend. I will miss telling you all the crazy and amazing things that Emma and Max do, share their accomplishments, and how much I appreciate you! I can still see your smile and hear your laugh. May you rest in peace, friend.
I worked with Jill during her time at IUPUC and you could always count on her to lift your day with a hilarious comment, joke or email. She was so kind to recognize our shared love of animals by giving me a bird feeder as a wedding gift that I still use today, 15 years later. I regret that I did not stay in touch with her after she retired and was thrilled to bump into her and have a short chat outside the Courtyard student restaurant at North High School earlier this year. She was a very bright light to everyone who knew her and I hope she is surrounded now by people she loves, lots of animal friends, and humor.
I am So Sorry to See of the Passing of Jill, as She was a Friend and Treasured Employee of Arvin Industries. Sending My Thoughts and Prayers to Her Family. She will be Dearly Missed by All that Knew Her. May She Rest in Peace.
Long, long ago when the world was young, Jill and Charlie and Mike and I used to pile into our van and go primitive camping out in the Kentucky hills or somewhere. I never got the feeling that primitive camping would’ve been Jill’s first choice for an adventure, but as we sat around our evening campfire with the stars twinkling away above us her face would be shining with joy as she reminded us often, “Isn’t this nice!” And it was so very nice, a blessing of memories. Thank you, Jill.
Jill and I worked together at Arvin’s corporate headquarters before we were sold to Meritor. She was an incredible teammate and her work helped to keep me focused on the most important tasks each day. I don’t remember ever seeing her flustered! She had such a positive attitude towards all that she did and the people who worked alongside her. I’m so sorry for her sudden and unexpected passing. She was a gift to us all.
Jill (some of us called her JillyBean) and I worked together at IUPUC and it turns out we owned the same home (on Sycamore Drive). So we had that to share, and we would often talk about ‘our home’. I have not dug any holes in the back 40 of the property because she said, “There’s probably a few cats and dogs buried back there.” That’s just the kind of woman she was. Funny, fun, warm, and friendly. She told it like it was and I loved to make her laugh. I was always happy to run into her when I was taking my mom to appointments at the hospital; she will be missed my many.