Alfred Mearl Kelp

September 12, 1938 – November 11, 2025

Alfred Mearl Kelp, at age 87, passed away peacefully at home in Petaluma, CA on November 11, 2025.

Alfred was one of five children. He was born in Long Beach, CA on September 12, 1938, the son of Alfred Mearl Kelp and Hallie Dee Scott.  He graduated from Santa Rosa High School in Santa Rosa, CA in 1957. He proudly served in the United States Navy on the U.S.S. Tortuga from 1957 to 1961, achieving the rank of Petty Officer Third Class (E-4). He took over the family business and worked as a barber for sixty one years at Al’s Barber Shop in Petaluma, CA. Alfred was a devoted husband and father and enjoyed fishing, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, abalone diving, and piloting private airplanes.

Alfred was preceded in death by his wife:  Alice Marie Kelp. Alfred is survived by two sons:  Vincent Mearl Kelp (Annie), and Vaughn Christian Kelp (Julie); one daughter:  Victoria Dee Kelp; two granddaughters:  Jessica Backstedt (Thomas), and Violet Kelp; one grandson:  Kevin Kelp; one great granddaughter:  Evelyn Linnae Backstedt; three sisters:  Delores VanLeuven (Al), Darlene Noland (Tom), and Denese Lighthill (Richard); one brother:  David Kelp (Mary, Inez); and many family members in Oregon, Washington, and California.

The graveside service will be held on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, Blue Star Memorial Lawn.