Wylmoth "Billie" Kelsey

On Sunday, January 26, 2014, Wylmoth B. Kelsey, known to all who knew and loved her as Billie, passed away at Knollwood Military Retirement Residence in Washington, DC. Formerly of Houston, Texas, born July 6, 1924 in Waukegan, Illinois, she was predeceased by her parents, Louis Curtis Kelsey and Wylmoth Kelsey Thompson and sister Frances Eloise Kelsey. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts from UCLA, where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority, she became a senior designer at Bullock's Department Store in Los Angeles. In 1949, Billie began serving with the Special Services at Sky Line Service Club at Wetzlar Military Post, Germany where she met and married a U.S. Army Officer. Throughout her life, she was a dedicated volunteer serving as Chairman of Volunteers for the American Red Cross in Frankfurt, Germany, President of the Women of St. Philip's, Chairman the Altar Guild at St. Philip's Church in Laurel and charity work on behalf of the Houston chapter of ASID. In 1973, she returned to the design field with W & J Sloane's in Washington, moved to Houston in 1978 and started her own interior design firm, B. Kelsey Interior Design, in 1979. Billie retired in 2003 returning to the Washington, DC area to make her home at Knollwood. She is survived by son, James C. Heckendorn of Sykesville, daughter Kelsey Heckendorn of Laurel, grandson Kevin James Logan of Ellicott City, and sister Barbara T. Clark of El Paso.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 6th & Main Sts., Laurel, MD 20707 or Army Distaff Foundation at Knollwood, 6200 Oregon Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20015.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the DONALDSON FUNERAL HOME, P.A. where funeral services will be held beginning at 8:00 PM.

Please view and sign the family guestbook at www.donaldsonfuneralhome.com