William Anton Keller

A Celebration of his life will be held at First Baptist Church on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at 2:00 PM with Dr. Jimmy Elder officiating. His family will receive friends before the service beginning at 1:00 PM. His family ask that in lieu of flowers for donations to be made to First Baptist Church Food Closet, P.O. Box 828, Columbus, Georgia 31902 in his memory.

“Buddy” was born on January 16, 1928 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He married Jacqueline Lawrence on July 12, 1947, they were happily married for 69 years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954 in Fort Belvoir in Alexandria, Virginia. After his service in the U.S. Army he joined the Alabama National Guard and serving as Captain he stood in the doorway at the University of Alabama when George C. Wallace tried to block integration and guarded Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Selma, Alabama march across the Edmund Puttus Bridge. Mr. Keller worked for 40 years at Sears Roebuck & Co. He was a long standing member of First Baptist Church. An Extreme hobbyist building model airplanes and home improvements and Sears Rehabilitation. Mr. Keller loved children, he lived his life centered on loving his family and helping everyone, if you met him at church he would be the first to hand you a piece of candy. He loved University of Alabama football.

He leaves his loving wife of 69 years, Jacqueline “Jackie” Keller, two daughters, Patti S. Taylor and Rebecca G. Keller, son, W. Craig Keller, five grandchildren, Chris Taylor, Jonathan Tipton, Andrew Tipton, Will Keller, and Caroline Keller; two great-grandchildren; two nieces and one nephew to cherish his loving memory.

Online condolences can be sent to his family at www.shcolumbus.com