Ted M. Keith

Ted Max Keith, 88, Iron Street, Rockhill Furnace, PA died at 12:51 p.m., Thursday, March 19, 2015 at the Lewistown Hospital, Lewistown, PA.

Born December 12, 1926 at Iron St., Rockhill Furnace, he was the son of the late Earl H. and Martha (Wennick) Keith. He was married to Mary Ella Peterson on September 29, 1946 in Huntingdon at the Methodist Parsonage with his sister Margaret and her husband O. H. (Willie) Wilhelmus as witnesses—a marriage of 68 years. Mrs. Keith survives at their home.

He is survived by a daughter Susan Ferguson and granddaughter Amy Foore, Dover, PA and a son Mark Keith and wife Lois Ann, also of Dover.

A sister, Margaret Wilhelmus, survives of Vine Grove, KY. A brother William L. (Bill) Keith and a sister Pauline Barnett preceded in death.

He is survived by several nephews and nieces and was especially fond of his nephew William E. (Pete) Keith along with special family friends Alan Painter and Dave Booher.

Mr. Keith was a member of the Rockhill Church of the Brethren where he served as treasurer for 10 years and was a longtime choir member.

A World War II Navy veteran, he served 1944-1946 on the USS Philadelphia and the USS Tennessee as a Seaman First Class. He was a member of Madden-Wennick Post 518 American Legion, Orbisonia and Blue Juniata Post 5754 VFW, Mount Union, PA.

Mr. Keith was a barber for 68 years in Orbisonia and Rockhill Furnace. He also worked as a brakeman for the East Broad Top Railroad and at the Harbison-Walker Refractories, Mount Union, PA.

He was a former member of the Rockhill Furnace Borough Council and served on the Southern Huntingdon County School Board for nine years.

A loving husband, father and special grandfather, he was a hunter and immaculate gardener, known for his "Green Thumbs" as he produced huge tomatoes and onions.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, March 23, 2015 at the Martin R. Brown Funeral Home, Orbisonia, PA with Pastor Robert Detwiler officiating. Interment will be at Orbisonia Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday and one hour prior to the service on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Rockhill Church of the Brethren, P. O. Box 39, Rockhill Furnace, PA 17249; The Vine Ministries Inc., P.O. Box 967, Goshen, IN 46527; or Salvation Army, 2514 Shady Side, Huntingdon, PA 16652.