William Henry Keller

william keller
William "Bill" Henry Keller, 88, of Asheville, died Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at the John F. Keever, Jr. Hospice Solace Center in Asheville, NC. A native of Akron, OH, he was born on April 30, 1920 to Dorothy Waldman and Anthony W. Keller. He attended Akron University and graduated from North Carolina State University in 1949. He served in the United States Marines, Air Force Division, 1st Marine Air Wing from 1941-1946 during which time he served in World War II in the South Pacific. He was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. Bill was a member of the Country Club of Asheville and the Biltmore Forest Country Club. He worked at Martin Marietta (now known as Lockheed-Martin), Orlando, FL in the Information Systems Department. He was later president of Bell Additives Incorporated in Longwood, FL and a Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League. He was one of the key persons in building the Orlando Metropolitan Bridge Center (OMBC) in Orlando, FL and was their first president. A room in the OMBC is named the "Keller Room". He was a member of the Basilica of St. Lawrence, DM in Asheville, NC. Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife of over 65 years, Ruth U. Keller; two daughters, Pat Neff of Lake Mary, FL and Priscilla Hall of Winter Park, FL; one sister, Dorothy Grote of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; one brother, John Keller of Richmond, VA; five grandchildren, Adam Zimmerman, Steven Zimmerman, Dawn Hall, Jon Hall, Jr. and Courtney Cox and one great-granddaughter, Gwynneth Cox. A funeral mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Fr. C. Morris Boyd at 10:00 AM on Friday, December 12, 2008 at the Basilica of St. Lawrence, DM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to CarePartners Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813 or to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Clinic, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian in Arden, NC is assisting the family.

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  1. Bill was a loving and caring person. He treated everyone he came in contact with respect.
    Once when I went to visit them after a hard time I had, Bill and Ruth Took me to see the Biltmore. While Ruth waited downstairs reading I was walking around when suddenly I became very uneasy. I turned around to leave the area I was in and there was Bill watching over me and that made everything alright just knowing he was there. After that we walked around together. He and Ruth are always there with open arms and it didn’t matter if you were friends or family. God Bless you, Bill and we will see you when we get to Heaven

  2. Dear Ruth,
    I was deeply saddened to hear of
    Bill’s death. My sincerest
    condolences on your loss. He will be missed.
    Ruby Suberman

  3. We certainly extend our heart felt condolences to his family. We will miss him at the Bridge room. He was always a friendly and cordial person at the bridge table. He will be fondly remembered.

  4. DEAR RUTH

    WE WERE VERY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT MR KELLER WE MET YOU AND MR KELLER AT HEART PATH WE WILL NEVER FORGET TALKING TO YOU AND MR KELLER AT THE DINNERS WE HAD AT BILTMORE CHURCH MR KELLER WAS ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.

    ROBERT & PATSY PERRY

  5. Dear Ruth, I’m so sorry to hear of Bill’s passing! I remember so well
    when we were there with you celebrating your 50th Anniversary. How many wonderful memories you have for all those 65 plus years you had him! God bless you and your family for the future ahead of you!

  6. Priscilla,

    I was cruising the net and noticed that you had lost your Dad. Having been through this last January I know that you have a spot in your heart that is now filling up with memories and many things done and shared. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do for you. Christmas is only a couple of days away and I know that the lights will not be as bright this year as the years gone by.

    Warmest regards and deepest sympathies,

    Bob


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