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Posted: Monday, September 21, 2015 4:27 pm


Robert "Bob" Ferrell Keeney passed on to his place in heaven peacefully on Friday, September 18, 2015, at home, under the care of Hospice. He was born in Muncie, IN on June 18, 1938 to the late William and Mabel (Llewlyn) Keeney. He spent his school years in Frankfort, IN graduating from Frankfort Senior High School.

Bob began working at Keeney's Standard Oil and later at Spaulding Fabrication Co. He entered the U. S. Air Force in 1961 and served honorably until his discharge on April 16, 1965. He re-entered the Air National Guard and was honorably discharged on June 5, 1998, after serving a total of 21 years.

As Crew chief of his KC 135 R he traveled to England, Istrip, France, Aviana, Italy, Honduras, Panama Canal, Hawaii and Alaska. He was involved in Desert Storm, Desert Shield, in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam and the Bosnian Conflict. Bob was also involved in the William Tell Competition at Tindal Air Force Base, Florida, where his unit, the 107th Interceptor fighter group from Niagara Falls, N.Y., achieved third place. His abilities and concern for his work ethic earned him several awards and medals.

He met and married Margaret Zecca in Utica, MI on December 20 1965. They celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary on December 20, 2014. They lived in Niagara Falls, NY before moving to North Carolina and finally making their retirement home in MacClenny, FL.

Bob enjoyed playing great golf, NASCAR with Jeff Gordon as his favorite, and the Miami Dolphins as his favorite football team. He volunteered at the Shelby N.C. senior center, and participated in senior games, collecting many gold and silver medals. He liked to paint on fabric, wood and glass and did a number of wood burning pieces that earned him first place honors. He loved traveling with his wife Marge.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Jacci (Paul) Dietz, of MacClenny, FL, Cheryl (Duane) Dotson of Indiana; his precious grand-children, Robert J. Dietz of Orlando, FL, Emma N. Dietz of MacClenny, FL, T.J. Gray and Brandon Gray of S.C., Nathan Dotson of Indiana and Tessa Whitus of Georgia; great-grandchildren, Lili Hughes, Kaydence and Brayden Dotson of Indiana; his brother, William Keeney and sister, Barbara Canine of Indiana, and also several nephews and nieces.

A Celebration of Bob's Life will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at 12:30 p.m. at Ferreira Funeral Services, with Chaplain William Allen officiating. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. in Jacksonville National Cemetery with full military honors. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. prior to the service. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations may be made to Haven Hospice, 745 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, FL 32065, in Roberts's name. The arrangements are under the care and direction of V. TODD FERREIRA FUNERAL SERVICES, 250 North Lowder Street, Macclenny, FL 32063 (904)259-5700.

Visit ferreirafuneral-services.com to sign the family's guest book.

Robert married ZECCO, Margaret Ann [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: DIETZ, Paul. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: DOTSON, Duane. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]