The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE - George T. Keller Jr., 90, of Cliftwood Circle, Clifton Forge, Va., formerly of Fairfax, Va., died Saturday Jan. 28, 2012, at LewisGale Hospital-Alleghany in Low Moor.
He was born Jan. 24, 1922, in Clifton Forge, Va., a son of the late George T. and Elizabeth Amber Worley Keller.
He graduated from Clifton Forge High School, served in the United States Air Force from December 1939 until June 1945, where he earned five Battle Stars during WWII and was attached to the 447th Bomber Squadron. He was a retired firefighter with the Washington, D.C. Fire Department, a retired letter carrier with the U.S. States Postal Service, and had worked with the Washington, D.C. Police Department. He was a member of Clifton Forge VFW Post 4299, the American Legion, served as the chairman of the Alleghany County Planning Commission, and past chairman of the Alleghany County/Covington Democratic Committee. He was also a member of the International Association of Firefighters and the Retired Firefighters Association of Washington, D.C., was an avid hunter and fisherman, and was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, and the mother of his children, Mary Connolly Keller, and two sisters; Iris Keller Gephart and Ruth Keller Schneider.
Survivors include his wife, Earleen R. Keller of Clifton Forge; a daughter, Maryann Folliard of Grand Prairie, Texas; two sons and their wives, Eugene and Kaye Keller of Tulsa, Okla., and Joseph and Jean Keller of Florida; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a great-great- grandchild; and a number of nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his caregivers: Susan Nicely, Robin Nicely, Brandy Matheny, and many family members.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3, 2012,in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, with the Rev. Sam Worley officiating and Senator Creigh Deeds or Temple Kessinger delivering the eulogy.
Interment will follow in Alleghany Memorial Park, Low Moor, with graveside military honors provided by Clifton Forge VFW Post 4299.
Active pallbearers will be Frank Persinger Sr., Dickie Engleman, Toby Taliaferra, Kyle Keller, Ryan Folliard, and John Folliard.
The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home.
The family suggests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions in his memory to the American Heart Association, in care of Joy Weeks, memorial chairwoman, 2212 Dressler Dr., Covington, Va. 24426.
To send an online condolence to be printed and presented to the family, visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.
