GEORGE EDSON KEELER

GEORGE EDSON KEELER, 89, of Huntington, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 1, 2014, at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House of Huntington. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Reger Funeral Chapel by Pastor Scott Byard. Burial will follow in White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Barboursville. He was born May 10, 1924, in Springfield, Mass., and raised in Bangor, Maine by his late parents Frank and Mae Colburn Keeler. George was a devoted husband and a loving, kind and gentle father. He never met a stranger and if you were his friend, you were a friend for life. George was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having received a Purple Heart during WWII and he was a member of the American Legion Post 16 of Huntington and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a fireman for the City of Huntington, retiring on July 1, 1976. He designed the #10 fire station and drew the route map for that district which still hangs in the station today. He designed and drew many posters and advertisements over the years for the Huntington Fireman's Parade. For three years he was the men's individual state figure skate champion during his high school years in Bangor, Maine. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and artist. George was the youngest of three children born to his late parents and he was preceded in death by both his brother Franklin Keeler and sister Gertrude Bussell. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Ruth V. "Butch" Keeler; two daughters and sons-in-law, Sara (Earl) Simmons and her husband Harry Simmons and Gena and Charles Hart, all of Huntington; grandchildren Scott (Beth) Earl, Christina (Stephen) Collins, Brian Hart and Brett Hart; great-grandchildren Mikayla, Charity and Blaine Collins, Kole and Atina Earl and Brynlee Hart. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Reger Funeral Home. The Huntington Fire Department will provide an honor guard during visitation and conduct the Fireman's Memorial Bell service Thursday at the funeral home. Condolences may be made to the family at www.regerfh.com. The Veterans Honor Guard of American Legion Post 16 of Huntington will conduct military graveside rites.