Billy "Kelly" R Wollett

“Kelly” Billy R. Wollett Obituary

Billy Raymond Wollett, affectionately known as “Kelly”, of Aurora, CO, who passed away unexpectedly at his home on 29 April 2024. He was born in Nelsonville, Ohio on 16 September 1954 to the late Florence (Savage) and Junior S. Wollett and preceded in death by brother Richard Wollett. He is survived by his siblings Chris, Jerry, Sharon, and Kathleen; his children, Tiffanie (Troy) Smith of Nelsonville, Ohio, Brandon (Valerie) Wollett of Augusta, GA. Nashalla Westover of Arvada, Co.; Jennifer (Rick) Grosse of Ft Collins Co.  Stepson Joey Trenchuk.; Also leaving behind are 10 grandchildren: Valerie Addis, Hunter Adcock, Thatcher Smith, Cole Wollett, Kaitlyn Wollett, Nash Love, Sienna Westover, Georgio Grosse, Camron Grosse, Curtis Wollett and two great grandchildren, Isabella Grosse and Logan Grosse.

Many of you may have known Billy Raymond “Kelly” Wollett as a son, a brother, a father, an uncle, a grandfather or papaw, an airman or 1st Shirt/ 1st Sergeant, and an ex-husband. My siblings and I knew him as a dad or daddy who imparted love, wisdom, and understanding throughout our lives.

Kelly joined the US Airforce after he turned 18 on 29 September 1972. He served for over 20 years of honorable military service, where he traveled the globe from South Korea to Germany deployed in support of the Vietnam War and Desert Shield/Storm, serving as a dental assistant before switching to an airplane mechanic working on F4 and F-111 Aardvark before becoming a 1st Shirt “Shirt” for the 27th Fighter Wing maintenance unit and the 27th Special Operations Medical hospital at Cannon Air Force Base, Clovis New Mexico. He retired on 31 December 1992 as a MSGT from the 27th Transportation Squadron in Clovis, New Mexico. 

He was awarded the Airforce commendation medal with 2 bronze oakleaf clusters, AF Achievement medal, AF outstanding unit award with 2 bronze oakleaf clusters, AF good conduct medal an bronze oakleaf cluster, a national defense service medal with 1 bronze star, Southwest Asia service medal with 1 bronze oakleaf cluster, both AF short and long overseas tour ribbons, AF longevity service award with 4 bronze oak leaf cluster, NCO professional military education graduation ribbon with 1 Bronze oak leaf cluster, small arms expert marksmanship ribbon, AF training ribbon and a meritorious service medal. 

When we reflect on his life journey, we can see where he lived life to the fullest. He had a personality that many people would gravitate to too, be it reminiscing on war stories, boosting about his family and family history, his joy of hitting the shooting range or some of his treks and adventures. He did so many things in his life. He had his pilot license, a criminal justice degree, mechanical engineering certifications focused on heating and air, a dental assistant, an aircraft mechanic, a gun enthusiast, and a Patriot. He was a cancer survivor who bragged about kicking cancer's butt and that never stopped him from constantly checking in with each of his kids and grandkids getting updates on life events, reporting his intel, with the rest of us, knowing that we were consumed with our own families’ activities and events. He would make time to be there for his grandchildren and showed them love and support as any good grandfather or show would celebrate graduations, sporting events and more. He once said to me “I might have screwed up as a husband and as a father, but I will be the best possible grandpa to my grandkids.”

Never forgetting his roots, Bill was a loved member of the online Facebook group “The New Nelsonville Tribune and editorial page”. He could be found there most days sharing funny memes, telling interesting (and sometimes embellished) stories, and sharing his political views.    

Being the unofficial family historian, he has spent countless hours tracking down our family linage back to the early 1800s and was proud to tell you about it at any opportunity.    He loved his indigenous heritage find out the Ponca People and Siksika Blackfoot tribes and studied all he could to find out more about them.   

A stranger to none, and friend to all, he played hard, loved hard and lived life to its fullest.   

Grave side services will be held Friday, May 17th at 3pm at Ft Logan National Cemetery in Denver Colorado. A Celebration of Life to follow at the American Legion 5400 W Yale Ave. in Denver Co. His request was in  leu of flowers, he would like for you to make donations to the Wounded Warrior Project that can be made in his memory.