Raymond Walter Keller

Raymond Walter Keller, 95, of New Bern, North Carolina, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2023. Raymond was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 20, 1927 to Louis and Nancy Elizabeth Wuersch Keller.

Ray was a spirited youth. Upon completion of Cincinnati Trade School, he yearned to join his brothers in the WWII effort and, with his parents’ permission, joined the Navy at 17. Completing training at Great Lakes Naval Base, he was shipped to Fallbrook Weapons Depot, California to learn gunnery. From small arms to aircraft defense platforms, he excelled in shooting and became an instructor.

After the war, he married his wife, Martha Wolery, and their adventure began. They began their family and he worked many jobs in electrical and refrigeration as a tradesman, but his real skill was his salesmanship. Industrial photography was where he spent most of his career, working for such international corporations as Kodak, Nord, and GAF. He finishing his career as Vice President of Klebanow Photo lab in Cincinnati Ohio, but retirement didn't last long. He accepted a consulting position in his field and he and Martha had one more move to make to Ontario, Canada before final retirement. Their move to the Dale Hollow Lake area of Kentucky was finally realized after the family had vacationed nearly every summer there for over 40 years. He loved to fish and shoot. He and Martha loved boating and water sports, even taking up scuba diving in their later years. Ray was a lifelong Mason, moving into the Scottish Rite and becoming a Shriner. He and Martha joined the Order of Eastern Star and rose through the chairs several times.

Left to cherish his memory are his sister Doris Keller Foster (Cincinnati, OH); his children, Michael (Jefferson, ME),Wanda (New Bern, NC); and Randy (Bowling Green, KY) and their spouses Wynne Keller, Frank Kleber, and Beverly Keller. His grandchildren include Bryn Keller (Vancouver, WA), Brandon Keller (Tjarno, Sweden), Gigi McCue (New Bern, NC), Nick Nicodeme (Wilmington, NC), Georgie Reilly,(Wilmington, NC), and Ryan Keller (Ellsworth AFB, SD). There are seven great-grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Martha, and child Cynthia Keller as well as his siblings Margaret, Louis and Charles Keller.

Online condolences can be made at www.cottenfuneralhome.com.. Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Raymond Keller.