Reuben Sylvester "Rube" Keeton, Jr. Jr.

Reuben "Rube" S. Keeton, Jr, 97, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, August 7, 2025, surrounded by family, friends, and his beloved wife, Clara. Born in Bynum, Texas, on December 27, 1927, to the late Reuben S. Keeton, Sr. and Ella Grigsby Keeton. Rube is survived by his loving wife, Clara; sons, Lonnie and Michael; granddaughters, Taylor, Amanda; grandson, Jeremiah; seven great-grandchildren; and daughter, Brenda. He is preceded in death by daughters, Linda and Laura; 2 brothers and 3 sisters.

Rube attended a semester at Texas Tech before realizing that he wanted to start working towards his goal of becoming a pilot. Rube started his journey by getting his private pilots license. A couple years later, he got his commercial license which allowed him to start cropdusting. Thereafter, he became a ferry pilot which involved flying cross-country from Texas to various locations in the country. Furthering his professional career, Rube worked nine years as a civilian flight instructor for the Air Force. He then worked full time as a head corporate pilot for various companies which led him to becoming a commercial airline pilot for Air South commercial airlines based out of Atlanta, Georgia. Several years later, a former student of Rube's from the Air Force recommended him for a job at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and eventually this became a realization of career status, but only by way of locating from Texas to Nebraska to Georgia to Kentucky and finally retiring after twenty one plus years in North Carolina.

Rube flew every type of general aviation airplanes including his favorites, Piper Cub and the T6 Texan. He held rating of airplane transport pilot (ATP) and he was jet rated. Rube successfully completed countless advanced mandatory aviation courses and was awarded certificates required for continuing certification. He was nominated for and subsequently selected to receive the coveted "The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award". In order to obtain this award one must have a proven officially documented record showing a minimum of fifty years accident-free flying. The FAA presented this award in appreciation for your dedicated service, technical expertise, professionalism, and many outstanding contributions that further the cause of aviation safety.

A special thank you to wonderful friends and neighbors Kathy and Ken Broadway and Diana Neer for their many kindnesses extended to Rube. The family would also like to extend a special thank you to the Rev. Paul Saleeby for sending copies of the weekly Sunday sermons for the past several years. Lastly, the family would like to thank the doctors and staff for their love and care given to Rube in the Critical Care Unit at Atrium Union.