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- Obituary for Richard Dean Keil
Richard Dean Keil died of natural causes on June 11, 2024. He was age 103 years and 4
days young.
Richard was born in 1921 in Haileyville, Oklahoma, a town of approximately 800 people, to
Albert Keil and Florence Easton. He lived on a farm with his two brothers, two sisters, four
horses and parents. He rode his horse to school and learned to hunt at an early age,
acquiring a lifetime love of the outdoors.
At age 14, Richard and his family moved to North Tonawanda where he spent the rest of his
life. He initially attended a one-room schoolhouse on Niagara Falls Blvd. He graduated with
honors from N. Tonawanda High School and received an American Legion leadership
award.
Following high school, Richard enlisted in the US Army where he served for one year.
Subsequently, World War II expanded and Richard’s life as a civilian was interrupted. He
was drafted by the US Army for a second term of about three years. He was assigned to the
US 8th Airforce, European theater, based in England. He was a B-29 bomber crew chief.
Richard also had musical talents the Army recognized, and they enlisted him as a tuba
player who also played strings in the Army’s dance band. Harmonica was another of his
favorite instruments.
After the war, Richard married Jane Ewald, and they raised a family. Richard earned a
bachelor’s degree in education from University of Buffalo. He taught school in Cato, NY
briefly before returning to N. Tonawanda and joining Bell Aerospace in 1950 where he spent
the rest of his career in contracts management. He is proud to have worked on the
Minuteman missile and other notable projects.
Richard had many interests and hobbies, including hunting, fishing, camping, business
news and personal investing. He never met a garage sale he didn’t like. He held leadership
responsibilities in his local church and the Chautauqua Institute Disciples of Christ
Richard earned media attention as a centenarian and WWII veteran. He participated in two
Honor Flights to Washington, DC. He frequently spoke to students and veteran groups
about his life experiences. He acquired many new friends later in life who met regularly for
coffee and conversation at Tim Hortons.
Richard’s wife, Jane, and his four siblings predeceased him. He is survived by his four
children: Douglas Keil (Beverly); Deborah Cramer (David); David Keil (Karen); and Dena
Lupke (late Robert); ten grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Richard lived independently through his advanced age in part because of the excellent care
he received over many years from the VA Hospital of Buffalo. He also enjoyed a network of
neighbors and good friends who were there when he needed them.
Visitation will be on June 19 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Wattengel Funeral Home, 533
Meadow Drive, N. Tonawanda, NY. Services will follow at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers,
donations are appreciated to: American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, P.0. Box 122,
Tonawanda, NY 14150.
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1921 - 2024 (103 years)