The Rev. Byron E. Kelham

The Rev. Byron E. Kelham died in Pueblo, Colorado, on April 14, 2013, at the age of 86. Devoted to community service and the larger cause of social justice, Mr. Kelham found meaning in serving on the boards of the Danbury, Conn, branch of the NAACP and the Human Relations Council. He also chaired the Chaplains’ Association of the Carnegie Institute of Technology.

Of the roles of minister and congregation, the Rev. Mr. Kelham once wrote:

“. . . it is the prime function of the church to help its members find a core of meaning around which the various fragments of their lives may be unified. Ideally, the minister should exemplify such a unified, “whole” life. Out of the strength and experience this gives him, he should, by means of ritual, preach- ing, and counseling, help others to achieve the same. . . . In so doing, the church and minister must at times vigorously protest and seek to correct those elements in our society, those demands, which are truly incompatible with such wholeness; prejudice, injustice, etc.”

Byron Elwood Kelham was born in Troy, Idaho, on February 28, 1927 to Edward and Alva Cartwright Kelham. He earned a B.Sc. from Lewis & Clark College in 1952 and a B.D. from Starr King School for the Ministry in 1955, and was ordained at the First Unitarian Church of Dallas on October 17, 1955. Among the churches he served before retirement in 1992 were the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburg (1964-68) and the First Unitarian Society of Pueblo, Colorado (1981-88).

Byron Kelham is survived by his wife, Ethyl Kelham; daughters, Rebecca Claussen, Cara Henderson, and Leslie Kelham; seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Society for Ministerial Relief, c/o Glen Snowden, Secretary, 34 Meeting House Lane, #201, Stow, Mass, 01775.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Leslie Kelham, 135 Vernon Pl., Pueblo, Colorado 81004.