Jacquelin Kelly Irwin

Jacquelin Kelly Irwin, 82, of Willow Valley Retirement Communities, formerly of Bel Air, died at Willow Valley Retirement Home in Lancaster, PA on March 19, 2013. She was the only daughter of the late James Twohig Kelly and Helen Shoemaker Kelly. She was the wife of Charles W. Irwin for nearly 63 years. Surviving children are Becky I. Dorothy of Darlington, MD, Kelly C. Irwin and wife, Denise, of Charlotte, NC, Kevin L. Irwin and wife, Dorothy, of Bel Air, MD; Grandchildren, Brooke I. Dorothy of Philadelphia, PA, Brent C. Irwin of Arlington, VA and Kyle R. Irwin of Charlotte, NC.

Jackie was graduated from Penn Hall in Chambersburg, PA. She worked as a Conover model in New York City and as a dancer at the famous Copacabana in New York. She was the only model at that time for the Jantzen Company in New York City. Jackie had quite an illustrious career in New York and worked with many famous people – Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin at the Copa and also knew Gordon and Sheila MacRae, Lena Horne, Martha Raye, Vic Damone, Jimmy Durante, Frank Sinatra, George Raft, Betty Grable and Harry James. She was on the Jack Eigan Radio program as well. During this time living in New York, she lived at the Barbizon Hotel for Women where Grace Kelly also lived. Jackie modeled the outfit that Jane Russell wore in the movie Buttons & Bows, printed in the New York World Telegraph Newspaper. She was also photographed for the cover of Life Magazine but was pre-empted for Lana Turner. She was under contract with International Pictures when she met her husband-to-be, Charles, who was emcee for a beauty contest in New York that Jackie won. Charles and Jackie were married in 1950 and gave up show business to move to Bel Air, Maryland and start a family.

Jackie worked several years for the Harford Democrat as a correspondent/photographer and wrote a weekly column. She was co-owner of Irwin Advertising and Public Relations, a business that she and husband, Charles started in 1970. Jackie was also a member of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church since 1951 and was on the altar guild for many years.

Those who desire may make a donation to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.