Herbert Rudolph Keithley Jr.
b. 16 July 1924, d. 9 February 2011
- Father: Herbert Rudolph Keithley b. 27 May 1897, d. 23 March 1983
- Mother: Hilda Esther Gielow b. 21 August 1900, d. 2 August 1987
- Herbert Rudolph Keithley Jr. was born on 16 July 1924 in Michigan City, LaPorte County, Indiana.
- Herbert Rudolph Keithley and Hilda Esther Gielow appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Long Beach, LaPorte County, Indiana. Other members of the household included Herbert Rudolph Keithley Jr.. Also in the household was roomer Leo Ryan (age 35).
- Herbert Rudolph Keithley and Hilda Esther Gielow appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Long Beach, LaPorte County, Indiana. Other members of the household included Herbert Rudolph Keithley Jr., Wayne Frederick Keithley.
- He married Marjorie Lenore Overton on 17 March 1950.
- Herbert Rudolph Keithley Jr. died on 9 February 2011 at age 86 in Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina.
- His wife Marjorie Lenore Overton became a widow at his death.
- He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia.
- The following appeared on 16 February 2011 in the Hendersonville Times-News: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Herbert R. Keithley Jr. (formerly of Sacramento, Calif.) passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, in Hendersonville.
He was a pilot, electrical engineer, career military officer, decorated military combat aviator, son, brother, father and grandfather. He was a veteran of World War II and Korea and took pride in serving in the defense of his country in the U.S Army Air Corps, U.S Air Force and the Department of Defense Air Logistics Command.
He was born on July 16, 1924, in Michigan City, Ind., to the late Herbert and Hilda Keithley. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Craig. He earned his private pilot’s license from the state of Indiana at the age of 14. He went on to Purdue University, where he studied electrical engineering, aeronautics and was a member of the Army ROTC. He had a lifelong love of music and was a member of the Purdue Men’s Chorus. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944 just short of graduation. After completing flight training, he became a flight instructor and then ferried B-17s and B-29s to the Pacific Theater until the end of WWII. He remained in the Army Air Corps after WWII and through its changeover to the U.S. Air Force until his retirement in 1965. While still in the service, he was awarded his degree from Purdue after the war. He earned an additional B.S. in electrical engineering at Mississippi State University.
He married Marjorie Overton of Sayville, N.Y., on March 17, 1950. From 1952 through the end of the conflict in 1953, he flew a B-26 light bomber named “Margie” in Korea. After Korea, he served in a variety of Air Force responsibilities as a pilot and squadron commander in Washington, D.C., Edwards Air Force Base Flight Test Center, Wiesbaden, Germany, and Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, Calif. After retiring from the Air Force in 1965, he went to work for the Federal Civil Service. He worked in the Department of Defense at the Sacramento Air Logistics Center at McClellan Air Force Base, where he was program manager, space systems. He retired from this second career in 1986. In 1996, he and Marjorie moved to Hendersonville to enjoy the remainder of their retirement.
In retirement, he remained active in veterans’ organizations such as the Retired Officers Association and the American Legion. In 2008, he joined other local veterans on an Honor Air flight to Washington, D.C. He appreciated the recognition that he and other veterans received from the American public.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 60 years, Marjorie Keithley; a son, Burt, and his wife, Suzanne; a daughter, Kyle; and grandchildren Cort, Dash and Moorea. He also leaves a sister in-law, Nancy Keithley; brother-in-law, Bill Overton and his wife, Arlene, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, 7020 AC Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
A memorial service was held on Feb. 11, 2011, at the Thos. Shepherd Church Street Chapel of Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors in Hendersonville.
- Last Edited: 9 Jun 2015