Cecil Ritter Keen

Cecil Ritter Keen, age 80 of Oakwood, Va., passed away Sun., Nov. 23, 2008. Born Oct. 22, 1928 in Buchanan County, Va., he was the son of the late Paris and Mary Virgie Dawson Keen. He was a member of the Church of Christ at Dismal, Va. He was a retired coal miner. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Oakie Mae Vandyke Keen; one son, Cecil Eugene Keen; sisters, Lydia Keen and Chloe Starcher; brother, Elmer Keen; and one special brother-in-law, Cleve Vandyke. He is survived by sons, William Paris Keen and fiancée, Ruth Vandyke, of Raven and John F. Keen and wife, Donna, of Dismal; daughter, Virgie Mae Meadows and husband, James, of Dismal; sister, Avanell Daughtery and husband, Fred, of North Carolina; brothers, Junior Keen and wife, Marie, of Patterson and Pete Keen of Patterson; grandchildren, Kimberly Michelle Meadows and Haleigh Nicole Mullins Keen; special friends, Kent, Teresa and Adam Keen of Dismal; one very special friend and caregiver, Ruth Vandyke of Mavisdale. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Wed., Nov. 26, 2008 at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel at Keen Mountain, Va., with Rev. Mike Altizer and Rev. Stanley Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Hinkle Cemetery at Upper Big Branch, Va. Pallbearers will be Richard Keen, Sherman Keen, Jeff Horn, James Meadows, Junior Looney and Adam Keen. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. J.G. Patel, office nurses and staff at Buchanan General Hospital 3rd and 4th Floor. The family received friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Tues., Nov. 25, at Buchanan Funeral Service at Keen Mountain, Va. A special thank you to the G & R Construction Crew and Matney Construction for digging the grave and to Dismal River Rescue Crew for their service. Online condolences may be sent to the family by going to www.SingletonFuneralService.com. Buchanan Funeral Service is serving the Keen family.