Dr. William H. Keaton

BOW, NH – William H. Keaton, DVM, 90, of Bow, NH, formerly of Barre, VT died Thursday, January 15, 2015 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

Dr. Keaton was born on April 1, 1924, in San Jose, California, the son of the late Clarence and Eliza (Andrews) Keaton. He attended school in Hollister, CA and was enrolled at Washington State University for one year before voluntarily enlisting in the US Army.

Dr. Keaton served in the Army during World War II and was held as a POW in Stalag 5A Ludwigsburg, Germany. He earned a Purple Heart for his service.

After being discharged due to injuries, he completed his DVM from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in 1949. He thereafter settled in the Barre-Montpelier area, having developed an affinity for the Northeast and its residents.

Dr. Keaton was a well-known veterinarian in the Barre-Montpelier area who provided care for many animals both large and small during his 50 years of private practice. He was 85 years old when he made the decision to fully retire.

He was an avid golfer and donated his time for twenty years as the green superintendent at the Barre Country Club. In addition to the country club he spent hours tending to his gardens and lawns at his home on Evergreen Drive. Dr. Keaton was also a lifetime member of the VFW and the Elks Club of Barre.

In high school and college he was an exceptional athlete and leader. He started as a freshman on the Washington State University football team and was president of the Gamma Mu chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Washington State, of which Edward R. Murrow was also a member at the time. In high school, he achieved the level of Eagle Scout through his years of participation in the Boy Scouts.

Another of his favorite hobbies was reading. He read hundreds upon hundreds of books in his spare time over the years. His favorite author was James Patterson, whose novels he continued to read through his final days.

Dr. Keaton will be remembered as an exceedingly generous man whose belief in higher education led him to financially support several extended family members through the completion of advanced degrees. His generosity extended well beyond his family; he was always willing to help anyone in need. He was also passionate about supporting the local businesses in his community.

He married Marie Ziter on June 26, 1954. They lived in Barre, Vermont, where they raised four children, for 60 years before moving to Bow, NH in 2012.

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Marie (Ziter) Keaton, of Bow, NH along with his four children; Kim Keaton of Concord, NH, Kerri Weinert of Waltham, MA, William (and Melissa) Keaton of Northbridge, MA and Kelly (and Brad) Morrow of Bow, NH; seven grandchildren, Lindsay Maguire, Molly, Ben and Sam Morrow of Bow, NH; William, Taylor and Joshua Keaton of Northbridge, MA, a niece Nancy Barnett of Greenbrae, California, and his brother-in-law, Thomas Ziter and family of Essex, VT.

He is predeceased by his sister Virginia Barnett and nephew Peter Barnett, both of California.

SERVICES: The family will be holding a private service in Vermont. Interment will take place in the spring at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph, VT.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Central Vermont Humane Society, PO Box 687, East Montpelier, VT 05601 in memory of Dr. Keaton.

Arrangements under the direction of Bennett Funeral Home, Concord, NH.