Herbert Augustus Keeling
February 19, 1929 – June 21, 2018
Herbert Augustus Keeling, age 89, of Westfield, Indiana, passed away on Thursday evening, June 21, 2018 at Riverview Hospital in Noblesvil
le. Born February 19, 1929 in Indianapolis, he was the son of the late Charles Lowell and Edith Nina (Hamilton) Keeling.
After graduating with the Sheridan High School Class of 1947, Herbert continued forward with his education, earning his BS in Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1950. Upon graduating, Herbert would serve his country as a soldier with the United States Army. After his time in the military was finished, Herbert was ready to come back home and start his engineering career. His first position was with Biddle Screw Products in Sheridan. He started out as a machine operator, but would eventually start designing and aiding in the construction of new equipment to help with the manufacturing of newer products for their clients. When Herbert left Biddle’s, he worked with a few other manufacturing companies before hiring on with Tuthill Pump Company. For over 21 years he worked in the Superior Linkage Division as their plant superintenent, before eventually retiring in 1991.
Retirement afforded Herbert more time to devote to some of the activities that he truly loved, and first and foremost on that list was golf. He loved playing in many different leagues throughout the years, and it really didn’t even matter if the weather was good enough to play. At one point during a match, Herbert had to be forcibly dragged away from the course; refusing to stop play when a thunderstorm, and eventual tornado, blew through the area. Staying active helped keep him young at heart.
When he wasn’t on the course, you could usually find him doing something around his property. He loved getting out and doing some landscaping or working in his garden; so much so, that he even constructed his own greenhouse. He also enjoyed woodworking and taking bicycle rides. Herbert knew he needed to not only keep his body active, but also his mind. He was a true fan of Reader’s Digest. There was one activity however that seemed to be Herbert’s favorite, and that was sitting and talking with people. New friends, old friends, lifelong buddies, it didn’t matter, Herbert loved reminiscing and telling all of his old stories, whether you had heard them before or not. Making people laugh and smile meant the world to Herbert. He was known as the Candy Man and always seemed to have a pocket full of mints to share with everyone he met.
Herbert also loved traveling and visiting family. He was a snowbird, wintering in McAllen, Texas, before eventually moving to DeLand, Florida. While in Florida, he was a member of the DeLand Church of Christ. In 2018, Herbert and Mary left Florida and moved back home to Indiana.
Herbert is survived by his loving wife, Mary Helen (Fisher) Keeling. She and Herbert were high school sweethearts, reconnecting after the passing of Herbert’s first wife. Mary Helen and Herbert were married on May 19, 2007. Also surviving are two sons, Jeffery Alan Keeling (Mary) of Ft. Wayne, and Kevin Walker Keeling (Tammy) of New Haven, Indiana; one daughter, Kathy Ann Stockwell (Scott) of Andersonville, TN; two step-sons, James F. Haddock (Kathleen) of Westfield, and Michael D. Stafford (Melanie) of Nineveh, Indiana; three step-daughters, Marianna Fisher of Sedona, AZ, Terri Lee Will of Houston, TX, and Pamela Sue Bevers (Warren) of Morgantown; eight grandchildren, Danny, Tracey, Tara, Krystal, Jordan, Jennifer, Cody, and Cal; eight great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and 10 step-great grandchildren. Herbert truly enjoyed doing fun activities with his kids and grandkids.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Charles William “Bill” , Richard Lee, John Oliver, and his twin brother Hobart Byrd Keeling; two infant sisters, Alma Louise and Marilyn Ann Keeling; and by his first wife, Roberta Ann (Walker) Keeling. Herbert and Roberta enjoyed 56 years of marriage.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 28, 2018, at Kercheval Funeral Home, 306 E. 10th Street, Sheridan. Pastor Gary Walker will be officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Kirklin.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at Kercheval Funeral Home in Sheridan.