1915
Teddy
2012
Teddy James Keller
November 25, 1915 — October 15, 2012
Ted Keller, Age 96, of Amarillo died October 15, 2012 at Castro County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Dimmit, Tx.
Celebration of Life Funeral Vigil will be at 7:00 PM on Friday, October 19, at Brentwood Chapel, Schooler Funeral Home in Amarillo.
Graveside services will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, October 20 at Llano Cemetery for the many friends in the Amarillo area.
Memorial Mass of the Resurrection will be at 12:30 PM, Saturday, October 20 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Nazareth with Rev. Ken Keller as celebrant. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, Amarillo.
Ted was born November 25, 1915 in Amarillo to Theodore Keller and Zita Eckelkamp, who married in 1912 and moved to Amarillo in 1913 from “Punkin Center”, north of Electra, Tx. He attended St. Mary’s Elementary School and Fleming Business School.
At the age of 11, he began working as a messenger boy in the offices of the Ft. Worth and Denver Railroad in Amarillo (later Burlington-Northern). At age 21, he moved into train service as a brakeman and in 1942, was promoted to conductor, eventually serving on passenger trains between Fort Worth and Denver. He retired in 1975 with 49 years of service with the railroad. He became building supervisor at St. Mary’s Church until 1989. Ted served as president of the FWD Credit Union from 1958 until 1980, was a parishioner through the years at the Old Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Mary’s and St. Laurence Churches in Amarillo and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He married Marie Smith in 1939 in Vernon, Texas. On January 2, 2013, they would have lovingly celebrated 74 years of marriage. They were most happy also to be foster parents to 26 infants, children, and teens through Catholic Family Service. Hobbies included railroad storytelling, car care and master “piddler” in his home woodworking shop.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Zeta; his brother Val; an infant sister, Carrie; and his first grandson, Thomas Keller.
Survivors include his wife, Marie; 4 sons, Gary Keller and wife Milagros, living in the Philippines; Teddy Keller and wife Marie of Wilmington DE; Rev. Ken Keller of Nazareth; Deacon Robert Keller and wife Ruth Ann of Katy; 8 grandchildren, Terence of San Diego, Chris, Tim and Steven of Houston; Angela of Fredericksburg; Teresa McArdle of West Chester, PA; Kenneth of St. Louis, MO; Larmie Sears of Amarillo; 10 great grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Viola Keller of Amarillo.
The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity.
Celebration of Life Funeral Vigil will be at 7:00 PM on Friday, October 19, at Brentwood Chapel, Schooler Funeral Home in Amarillo.
Graveside services will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, October 20 at Llano Cemetery for the many friends in the Amarillo area.
Memorial Mass of the Resurrection will be at 12:30 PM, Saturday, October 20 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Nazareth with Rev. Ken Keller as celebrant. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, Amarillo.
Ted was born November 25, 1915 in Amarillo to Theodore Keller and Zita Eckelkamp, who married in 1912 and moved to Amarillo in 1913 from “Punkin Center”, north of Electra, Tx. He attended St. Mary’s Elementary School and Fleming Business School.
At the age of 11, he began working as a messenger boy in the offices of the Ft. Worth and Denver Railroad in Amarillo (later Burlington-Northern). At age 21, he moved into train service as a brakeman and in 1942, was promoted to conductor, eventually serving on passenger trains between Fort Worth and Denver. He retired in 1975 with 49 years of service with the railroad. He became building supervisor at St. Mary’s Church until 1989. Ted served as president of the FWD Credit Union from 1958 until 1980, was a parishioner through the years at the Old Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Mary’s and St. Laurence Churches in Amarillo and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He married Marie Smith in 1939 in Vernon, Texas. On January 2, 2013, they would have lovingly celebrated 74 years of marriage. They were most happy also to be foster parents to 26 infants, children, and teens through Catholic Family Service. Hobbies included railroad storytelling, car care and master “piddler” in his home woodworking shop.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Zeta; his brother Val; an infant sister, Carrie; and his first grandson, Thomas Keller.
Survivors include his wife, Marie; 4 sons, Gary Keller and wife Milagros, living in the Philippines; Teddy Keller and wife Marie of Wilmington DE; Rev. Ken Keller of Nazareth; Deacon Robert Keller and wife Ruth Ann of Katy; 8 grandchildren, Terence of San Diego, Chris, Tim and Steven of Houston; Angela of Fredericksburg; Teresa McArdle of West Chester, PA; Kenneth of St. Louis, MO; Larmie Sears of Amarillo; 10 great grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Viola Keller of Amarillo.
The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity.
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