Obituary for Pastor George Harvey Keith
Pastor George Harvey Keith, a Baptist minister, Hollidaysburg, died Thursday at the age of 93.
He was born in Altoona, son of the late Fay A. and Marian (Wike) Keith. He was twice married. Pastor Keith's wife of 33 years, Vivian, passed away in April 1979. On Sept. 29, 1979, he married Peggy Grabill.
Surviving are his loving wife of 40 years; two sons: Rick G. Keith and wife, Nancy, of Cave Creek, Ariz., and Paul C. Keith of Hilliard, Ohio; two stepsons: Jeffrey L. Grabill of Great Cacapon, W.Va., and Stephen M. Grabill and wife, Patricia, of Mechanicsburg; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by an infant son, Stephen P. Keith; and two brothers: Jack and Dave.
George was a 1944 graduate of Altoona High School. Prior to college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps to become a pilot. He served most of his enlistment at Hondo Air Base in Texas, but never attained his dream to fly, as World War II ended.
Pastor Keith graduated from Bob Jones University in May 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by Calvary Baptist Church, Altoona, in June 1955. In July 1960, he graduated with a Master of Theology degree from Burton College and Seminary. Over the next 38 years, he pastored churches in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. The 10 years following his retirement, he continued to preach and minister in various churches in the Altoona area.
Pastor Keith was a member of Riggles Gap Bible Church, where he often had the joy and pleasure of preaching Sunday services, teaching adult Sunday school classes and leading their senior citizens in Jolly Sixties. He enjoyed golfing, model airplane building, watching westerns on TV and word search puzzles.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, at The Good Funeral Home Inc., Alto-Reste Park, Altoona, and from 10 until the 11 a.m. funeral service on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at Riggles Gap Bible Church, Pastor William Ice officiating. Interment will be made in Rose Hill Cemetery.
thegoodfuneralhomeinc.com
He was born in Altoona, son of the late Fay A. and Marian (Wike) Keith. He was twice married. Pastor Keith's wife of 33 years, Vivian, passed away in April 1979. On Sept. 29, 1979, he married Peggy Grabill.
Surviving are his loving wife of 40 years; two sons: Rick G. Keith and wife, Nancy, of Cave Creek, Ariz., and Paul C. Keith of Hilliard, Ohio; two stepsons: Jeffrey L. Grabill of Great Cacapon, W.Va., and Stephen M. Grabill and wife, Patricia, of Mechanicsburg; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by an infant son, Stephen P. Keith; and two brothers: Jack and Dave.
George was a 1944 graduate of Altoona High School. Prior to college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps to become a pilot. He served most of his enlistment at Hondo Air Base in Texas, but never attained his dream to fly, as World War II ended.
Pastor Keith graduated from Bob Jones University in May 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by Calvary Baptist Church, Altoona, in June 1955. In July 1960, he graduated with a Master of Theology degree from Burton College and Seminary. Over the next 38 years, he pastored churches in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. The 10 years following his retirement, he continued to preach and minister in various churches in the Altoona area.
Pastor Keith was a member of Riggles Gap Bible Church, where he often had the joy and pleasure of preaching Sunday services, teaching adult Sunday school classes and leading their senior citizens in Jolly Sixties. He enjoyed golfing, model airplane building, watching westerns on TV and word search puzzles.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, at The Good Funeral Home Inc., Alto-Reste Park, Altoona, and from 10 until the 11 a.m. funeral service on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at Riggles Gap Bible Church, Pastor William Ice officiating. Interment will be made in Rose Hill Cemetery.
thegoodfuneralhomeinc.com