William Keller

William Bryan Keller, best known by generations of Clemson students as the kindly "Judge" of Judge Kellers Store in downtown Clemson, passed away Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at the age of 91.

He was the only child of Mayette Brown and Isaac Leonard Keller, born in 1912, at his grandmother's home in Westminster. A 1933 honor graduate of Clemson College, with a B.S. in chemistry, he worked as a soils chemist for Clemson until he was called to active duty in World War II. As a member of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps, he served in Sicily and Italy, finishing out the war at Huntsville Arsenal in Alabama, eventually retiring from the Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel.

After the war, he took over Judge Kellers Store from his dad, who had established the business in 1899. In 1977, he turned the store over to his son but remained a major fixture in the store until his health declined several years ago. He was always particularly proud of being a member of the University Lutheran Church, a Mason and a recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award presented by Clemson University. Judge was predeceased 18 years by his wife, Lila Vandiver, to whom he was forever totally devoted, as he was also to his entire family, his store and his Christian faith.

He leaves a son, Isaac Leonard Keller II (Eileen Brookman); a grandson, Benjamin William Keller, of Clemson; sisters-in-law, Billie Vandiver, of Clemson, and Jane Vandiver Ramsay, of Jackson, Miss.; two cousins, Ruth and Herbert Brown, of Westminster; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at University Lutheran Church, with visitation to be held from 1 to 2 p.m., prior to the service. Burial will be at Old Stone Church Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to University Lutheran Church, 111 Sloan St., Clemson, SC 29631. -- Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central-Clemson Commons, is assisting the family with arrangements.