Obituaries : Contractor Frank Kelley, 73; He Helped Build Disneyland

Frank Kelley, a building contractor who helped construct some of Disneyland’s first attractions, became an Episcopal priest when he was middle-aged and who then tried to become mayor of Los Angeles, has died.

His daughter, Arlene Billheimer, said Thursday that her father was 73 and died Wednesday after suffering a heart attack at the Episcopal Home for the Aged in Alhambra. He had been working in the social service department there since leaving parish work in 1983.

Kelley, who had served in Los Angeles’ Social Services Department and sat on the Board of Zoning Appeals during the administration of Mayor Sam Yorty, was a property foreman for Walt Disney Studios before being ordained in 1960.

He helped build the Matterhorn ride at Disneyland and the rafts used to carry visitors to Tom Sawyer’s Island at the amusement park.

He began studying for the priesthood in 1956 and after being ordained was made vicar and rector at St. Francis and St. Athanasius Episcopal churches.

In 1977 he was one of nine lesser-known candidates in the race to unseat Mayor Tom Bradley when state Sen. Alan Robbins was the mayor’s leading challenger.

After retiring he became chaplain of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Division, worked at the Episcopal Home in Alhambra and wrote a column for weekly newspapers in the Glendale area.

In addition to his daughter he is survived by two sons, two grandchildren and a sister.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Episcopal Home on Marengo Avenue.