Kenneth Neil Keller

Kenneth N. Keller, 88, of The Woodlands in Greenville, South Carolina died on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Shirley to whom he had been married for 66 years, and four of his five children: Cindi (Jeff) Morris of Blue Springs, MO; Charlene (Bob) Lisi of Charleston, SC; Ken (Cate) Keller of Waynesboro, VA; and Doug (Brenda) Keller of Kansas City, MO. His daughter Jennifer MacQuarrie (Ernie) of Bellingham, WA passed away in 2011. Ken is also survived by eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Born on March 18, 1935, Ken grew up in Toledo, Ohio, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toledo and his Master of Arts degree from Indiana University. He worked for General Electric for five years and then joined the Security Life and Trust Company in Winston-Salem, NC in 1964, spending the remainder of his career in the life insurance business. He was president of Victory Life Insurance Company in Topeka, KS from 1974 to 1981. His last position was with Liberty Life Insurance Company in Greenville, SC as Executive Vice President of Operations from 1987 to 1999.

He was active in community affairs, heading a successful school tax referendum in Winston-Salem and a special task force that helped ease school integration in 1968. In Topeka he headed the United Way annual fund drive and later was president of the organization. He participated on many boards in each place he lived.

Ken was a leader in all aspects of his life, especially in his family. A man of letters with two English literature degrees, he delighted in corresponding with his children and their extended families through letters, emails, texts and calls. He could always be counted on to tell or hear a good story, always wanted to know what was going on, and when asked, for thoughtful counsel.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, September 15, 2023 at Mackey Funerals and Cremations, 311 Century Dr. Greenville, SC 29607 at 3:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The Parkinson Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Keller family.