Keith Robert Volkmann

Keith was born in May 1942 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the late Margaret and Herbert Volkmann. He lived in a suburb of Buffalo, New York with his parents and brother, Pen, until he graduated from Kenmore West Senior High School in 1960. An active student, he played ice hockey and ran track and field. The family moved to South Hadley, Massachusetts shortly thereafter.

Keith attended the University of Rochester and graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Biology. He continued his studies there earning his Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology in 1973. While in Rochester, Keith married his first wife, Margaret Benson, in 1965. Together they welcomed their daughter, Deirdre, in 1968.

In 1973, Keith was recruited to the Medical College of Georgia to serve as part-time faculty in the Dental College while also pursuing his DMD, Doctor of Medical Dentistry, which he earned in 1976. Keith continued to teach microbiology to dental students and dental hygiene students until he retired. He was revered by his students and in 2014 he was awarded, “The Outstanding Faculty Award for The College of Dental Medicine”. He retired as an Associate Professor of Oral Biology Emeritus. In 1998, he received a certificate of appreciation “for outstanding contributions” in the Postgraduate Dental Program. While in Augusta, Keith also served in the US Army Reserves as a dentist.

After retirement, Keith’s life remained active with many hobbies. While living in Augusta he became a rower with the Augusta Rowing Club. He then became a referee for the US Rowing Association and was favored as a finish line referee. Another referee, Brenda Jennings from Atlanta, was there as a referee as well. They started dating. Brenda and Keith were married in December 2015. Even in their seventies, they enjoyed fun with cherished friends at the Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Opera and the Atlanta Botanical Garden, as well as reading books together at home. When he turned 77, Brenda arranged for Keith to take a ride in a P-51 Mustang as his birthday present. In the pictures from that day, he could not smile any brighter.

Keith is survived by his wife Brenda, daughter Deirdre, brother Charles (Pen) Volkmann (Deborah), stepchildren Andrea (Jeremy) and Chris (Sarah), grandchildren Mary Grace Wilson (Josh) and Benson Clements (significant other Ashlynn Steele), the mother of his daughter Margaret Benson Walker (Ben) as well as many of his friends from along his journey.