Lee Kelvington, retired Ohio Power T&D director, passes away

For 20 years, Joan and Lee Kelvington, retired Ohio Power T&D director, sponsored the annual Oglebay Park mini-vacation contest, providing AEP employees and retirees the opportunity to spend a weekend at the popular resort near Wheeling, W.Va. Winners came from far and near and enjoyed the getaway all because of the Kelvington’s generosity.

Lee and Joan Kelvington share a moment in this 1997 photo.

Wilbur “Lee” Kelvington, 85, of Wheeling, passed away October 7 in Wheeling Hospital.

“Joan and I have many fond memories of Oglebay,” said Kelvington in announcing the contest one year. “Sponsoring the mini-vacation for our AEP family is an awesome experience, and we look forward to meeting the lucky winner each year.”

A private funeral service was held at the Altmeyer Funeral Home in Elm Grove Oct. 9 for friends and family of Lee, including Joan and their son, Rick. He is also survived by family members, Alan and Brenda Duvall, Diana Duvall, and Scot Duvall.

Lee was born in the Elm Grove area to Vern and Mary Katherine Kelvington on November 26, 1929, during the start of the “Great Depression.” He went to Triadelphia High School, and graduated from Riverside College before entering the Air Force in 1950.

After the Korean War, he went on to earn a masters of electrical engineering degree, knowledge he put to good use in the 52 years he worked for AEP. He started out as a meter reader and went on to manage the department. In the 1970’s, he moved to the AEP headquarters in Canton, Ohio, and worked as the T&D director until his retirement.