Vernon Keith

Vernon Keith WEST LIBERTY, Iowa - Vernon Keith, 76, passed away Sunday, June 29, 2008, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City surrounded by his family after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral Service will be 10 a.m. on Thursday July 3, 2008, at the West Liberty United Methodist Church. Burial will be at the Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at the church. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church or to Iowa City Hospice. The Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty is in charge of arrangements. Vernon was born on August 14, 1931, in Clinton, the son of John and Elsie Keith of Calamus. He married Ernesine Travis of Dayton, Tenn. on May 16, 1955. He attended Calamus grade school and then graduated from DeWitt High School in 1950. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served four years, stationed in San Antonio, Texas then to Newfoundland and back to South Carolina. Following his discharge from the Air Force he then attended Michigan State University where he received a bachelor's of science in soil science in 1960. His 30 year career with Walnut...[more]

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ove Products ended when he retired in 1991 at the West Liberty plant where he was the plant manager. He was the plant manager in Independence, Iowa for five years. He was active in his community and church for more than 40 years. He loved doing volunteer work and served on the West Liberty School District, School Board for 21 years and as president for 12 years. He also was a board member on the community Action of Eastern Iowa (TRAIN), Families Inc. of West Branch, Golden Years Housing of West Liberty for 14 years, the Atalissa / West Liberty United Way, and the West Liberty School Foundation. He could be found driving the transportation bus for Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty for the past seven years. He was a volunteer at the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce for many years. He was a member of the American Legion, past member of the Lion's Club and Rotary, and the United Methodist Church and the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce. He is survived by his wife, Ernestine Keith of West Liberty; three children, Valerie and Pat Congdon of rural Atalissa, Laurie and Kurt Heckman of West Liberty and Brian Keith of Sacramento, California; four grandsons and one granddaughter, Ryan and Marcus Davis of Wayland, and Joshua and Travis Shilz and Mikayla Heckman of West Liberty; two brothers, Donald and Evelyn Keith and Derwood and Arlene Keith, all of West Liberty; many nieces and nephews; stepgrandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Elsie Keith.