William T. Kelsey; Retired Teacher

William T. Kelsey, who taught elementary school in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley for 36 years, has died at a Sherman Oaks hospital. He was 68.

Kelsey, a longtime Van Nuys resident, died Wednesday of cancer, his daughter, Susannah Kelsey, said.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Kelsey came to California as a child and graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1940. During World War II and the Korean War, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in bacteriology from USC and in 1953 began teaching at Norwood Street School in Los Angeles. He later transferred to Coldwater Canyon Avenue School in North Hollywood and Filmore Street School in Pacoima. Kelsey, who taught fourth through sixth grades, retired from Chandler School in 1989.

He served in active duty and reserve status in the military for 33 years. In his last assignment he served as an instructor with the 6220th U.S. Army Reserve School attached to Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, until his retirement in 1973 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Kelsey was a member of the Reserve Officers Assn., the San Fernando Valley chapter of the Military Order of World Wars, the West Los Angeles chapter of the Civil War Roundtable and the American Assn. of Retired Persons. He belonged to the First Presbyterian Church of Encino, where he was active with a church group called the Nautilus Mariners.

He is survived by his daughter, Susannah Kelsey of Van Nuys. His wife, Betty Kelsey, died in 1977.

Visitation is planned from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Forest Lawn Mortuary, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, in the Hollywood Hills, which is handling the arrangements. A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. Burial, with full military honors, will follow. Donations can be made in Kelsey’s name to the USO, 601 Indiana Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.