Gordon P. Keeney

GLEN ROCK Gordon P. Keeney, 83, loving husband, father, and grandfather, died Sunday, May 18, 2014, at York Hospital. He was the husband of H. Arlene (Kenly) Keeney. The couple would have celebrated 59 years of marriage on June 5, 2014. Born June 13, 1930, in Hungerford (now Shrewsbury), Gordon was the son of the late Howard Z. and Nola (Keeny) Keeney. Viewings will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 22, 2014 and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at J.J. Hartenstein Mortuary, Inc., 24 N. Second St., New Freedom. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, May 23, 2014 at the mortuary, with Pastor Jeff Feeser officiating. Interment will follow the service in New Freedom Cemetery. As a tribute to his grandfather, CPL Joshua Piermatteo has requested full military honors at the cemetery by a Marine Honor Guard. Gordon began his career as a salesman in his parents' store, the former H.Z. Keeney Meat Market, Hungerford. He later was employed for all the following companies: Jay's Markets, York, as the meat manager; a meat merchandiser for Louis Lehrman & Son Company, Harrisburg; and a sales representative for J.D. Halderman Company, Chadds Ford, Delaware County. After he retired, he sold John Deere equipment for Waltemyers Sales and Service in Red Lion. Gordon was a 1948 graduate of the former New Freedom High School. He was a U.S. Marine Corps, 4th Battalion Veteran. Gordon was a former member of Turnpike Baptist Church, Shrewsbury, where he served as a Deacon, Church Treasurer, and Sunday School Superintendent. He was a member of Gunpowder Baptist Church, Freeland, Md., where he served as a Deacon. For many years, Gordon was a faithful supporter of the ministry of The New Life Center for Children and Mothers in Glen Rock. He especially enjoyed seeing the children and taking pictures at the annual Christmas party that he helped sponsor. Gordon was a sponsor for children in The World Vision Child Care Ministries Program for over thirty years. He was also a supporter and encourager for the participants in the Special Olympics programs. Gordon was a member of the Shrewsbury Boy Scouts, and, as a young man, played ball for the Shrewsbury Baseball Team. He was an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman, and especially enjoyed his trips to Montana and Canada to pursue the sports. Gordon liked to travel in his motorhome, touring the East Coast from Nova Scotia to Florida and West to Montana. He enjoyed gardening and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and friends. Through the American Field Service Student Exchange Program at Susquehannock High School, Gordon hosted many foreign exchange students for weekend events. He also had many wonderful memories of the year Kari Hvinden, an A.F.S. student from Norway, shared his home. Gordon was a dialysis patient and he used this opportunity to reach out to many of the other patients. He made many friends because of his warm, caring spirit and he always took time to listen to their concerns and share in their joys and struggles. He visited many of these folks when they were hospitalized and was always an encouragement to them. Gordon was blessed by the friendship of each of these folks and he often spoke of these friends by name. Gordon had a high regard for the doctors, nurses and staff at WellSpan Dialysis Center and the family sincerely thanks them for their dedication, compassion and loving care they gave him. In addition to his wife, Gordon is survived by three children, Daniel B. Keeney and his wife, Leslie of Lynchburg, Va., Sandra L. Predix of York, and Sharon D. Piermatteo and her husband, Philip of Shrewsbury. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Chad Predix, Seth Predix and his wife, Megan, Mark Piermatteo and his wife, Kim, Joshua and Philip A. Piermatteo IV (Tony), Cameron and Colleen Keeney; and by two sisters, Nancy L. Williams, Linda M. Schultz, and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Turnpike Baptist Church, 519 S. Main St., Shrewsbury, PA 17361; or WellSpan Dialysis Patient Help Fund, 308 St. Charles Way, York, PA 17402