Douglas Leslie Keith

Douglas L Keith, beloved husband of Luise, died at home in Elk Grove on Thursday, December 20, 2012 at the age of 85. He had suffered a prolonged illness. Doug was born in September of 1927 in Taft, California to Leslie and Ruth Keith. He is survived by his sister Lilly and children Charles, Margaret, Jude, step children Christa and Fred, and many beloved grandchildren. In his professional life he taught at Cal Poly. He lived for much of his adult life in Santa Clara where he ran the Materials Research Lab at Stanford University. During his time at Stanford he also pursued his love of photography and gift for education by teaching photography at Foothill Community College. While working at Stanford he helped develop a "sputtering gun" that allowed very thin layers of metal to be combined in ways not previously possible. He and Luise moved to Elk Grove in 2001 and shortly thereafter became involved in the Sheldon Community Association. He was very interested in the history of the Sheldon Area and preservation of its rural roots. Viewing will be at the Elk Grove Funeral Chapel on Wednesday December 26th from 12 - 5 pm. Services will be held at Saint Maria Goretti Parish, 8700 Bradshaw Road in Elk Grove at 10 am on Thursday December 27th followed by interment at Pleasant Grove Cemetery. A reception will follow at the home of his daughter Margaret at 10774 Sheldon Woods Way, Elk Grove.