E. William “Bill” Keller

E. William “Bill” Keller

E. William “Bill” Keller, beloved husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, passed away on March 23, 2011 at the age of 89. Born June 14, 1921 to Max & Ida Keller (Cohen) in Pittsburgh, he lived the majority of his life in McKeesport. Bill graduated from McKeesport High School in 1938 and left for the service in September, 1942. He served his country in the south Pacific with the 345th Bomber Group until 1945. Bill went into the millinery business in 1958 in Braddock and retired from retailing in 1989. Throughout his lifetime, he has been an active member of the Jewish community, his business community, and his social community. He began with the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, where he was Aleph Godol (President) of his A.Z.A. chapter, then president of the McKeesport Lodge of B’nai B’rith in 1957 and 1958, member of its Scholarship Program, and then an active board member. He had associations with the United Jewish Appeal, the United Jewish Federation, and Temple B’Nai Israel in McKeesport, where he has been a life-long member. He was a member of the Jewish Community Center and the Jewish War Veterans. He served his business community, where he was active in the Greater Braddock Chamber of Commerce, Braddock Rotary, the Oakland Business and Civic Association, and Braddock Human Relations Council. Bill’s humanitarianism is also apparent in community service. He was a volunteer at Meals on Wheels in McKeesport and was recently recognized along with his wife for contributing more than 5,000 hours as a volunteer at the McKeesport Hospital. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Marlene Keller Farkas, and most recently his beloved son, Rick Keller. He leaves behind to continue his humanitarianism, his wife of 62 years, Isa L. Keller (Lazear), his daughter and son-in-law, Edie & Bob Kreider, his daughter-in-law, Deb Keller, his grandsons, Mike (Kate) Kreider, Steve Kreider & Lisa Alexander, Jeff (Haley) Kreider, and Jim (Tarrin) Augustine, and his adored great-granddaughter, Mallory Kreider. He also leaves loving nieces and nephews, Barry & Farial, Linda & Dick, Lisa & Marco, and Alan & Tina, and his great-nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, his family would like donations sent to “The Consortium for Public Education” to support the scholarships he has set up for helping to further the education of today’s McKeesport students. Mail donations to McKeesport High School Alumni & Friends Association, PO Box 432, McKeesport, PA 15134.

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