John W. Keith Jr.

KEITH, John W. Jr., 81, of Richmond, passed away Friday, October 10, 2008. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Gloria Conte Keith; and his two daughters, Diane "Di" Keith Jones and her husband, Ambrose, and Judy Keith Davis and her husband, Arthur; seven grandchildren, Brian and Michael Jones, Matthew, Christin, Nathaniel, Caitlin and Mark Davis; and six great-grandchildren. Jack attended Virginia Military Institute (VMI) majoring in Civil Engineering from 1944 until 1946, when he was called upon by his country to serve in the US Army. Upon his return from active duty, he entered the University of Virginia law school where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1951 after also being admitted to the Virginia Bar. He served as an intern assisting the head of the United Nations legal department in 1950. As a real estate attorney in the Richmond area, Jack represented various European investors and was very instrumental and innovative in commercial and land development. Two of his more notable projects were Riverside/Briarwood and Hathaway Tower. Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery and a celebration of Jack's life will be held between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m. Friday, October 17, at Hathaway Tower Party Room, 2956 Hathaway Road, Richmond, Va. 23225. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VMI Foundation Fund, in memory of John W. Keith Jr., P.O. Box 932, Lexington, Va. 24450.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.