Arthur Eugene KELLER

KELLER, KEEFE, GAITHER, CLINTON, GARLAND

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/30/2011 at 14:24:16

August 15, 1924 -- July 20, 2011

HICKORY, NC -- Arthur "Art" Eugene Keller, of Hickory, died Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at Heritage Place in Statesville. He was born on Aug. 15, 1924, in Eagle Grove, Iowa, and was the son of the late Arthur Eugene and Mary Ellen Keefe Keller. He was a graduate of Eagle Grove High School. While a student at the University of Iowa, he was a member of the swim team. Art also graduated from Navy Flight School. As the youngest aviator in World War II, he spent ten months in the Pacific Theater during World War II as a pilot. During the Korean war between September 1952 and May 1953, he flew over 100 combat missions supporting ground troops as a pilot of a Douglas Skyraider. He received a Purple Heart, a Distinguished Flying Cross, seven flying medals, and many other medals and commendations. In the 1950's and 1960's, Art trained helicopter pilots for the Vietnam war. Art retired from the Marine Corps as a Colonel. Due to his love of flying, he attended many air shows and still had his original flight log book documenting his flights over North Korea. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen "Kathy" Gaither Keller; a sister, Dorothea Keller Clinton, and a brother, John Thomas Keller, and two nephews, John A. Clinton and Leonard C. Clinton. He is survived by one niece, Mary C. Garland, and 11 nephews, Joseph Clinton, James Clinton, Ed Clinton, Thomas Clinton, Paul Clinton, Earl Clinton, N. Sankey "Buddy" Gaither III, David Gaither, Gary Gaither, Glen Gaither, and Kent Gaither. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Hickory with full military rites presented by American Legion Post #48 of Hickory. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Reavis Funeral Home of Harmony is entrusted with the arrangements.

Statesville Record & Landmark - Statesville, North Carolina
July 24, 2011