The Rev. Ronald Keaton, loving husband of 56 years to Karen Keaton, and father to R. Mark Keaton (deceased), Paul Andrew (Rozlyn Rader) Keaton, Rebekah Ayn Keaton (Terrance Peterson) and five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, passed away after a valiant battle with cancer on September 13, 2018. He was born in Slagle, West Virginia, the son of Richard and Ruby Keaton, and older brother of Jerry Keaton (deceased) and Kathy Keaton.
He earned a Bachelors in English and History and a Master’s in History at Marshall University and his Master’s in Theology at Crozer Seminary. He was an Honors Crozer Scholar. He served as Campus Minister at Marshal University and the University of Delaware. Completing seminary, Rev. Keaton moved to Western New York where he was the long-time pastor of Broad Street Baptist Church in Tonawanda (1969-1997) and then of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in North Tonawanda. He retired from there in 2004. He served as the Protestant Chaplain at Kenmore Mercy Hospital on behalf of the WNY Council of Churches and was an active member of the Twin City Ministerial Group, serving for many years as its treasurer. He embraced life. He enjoyed kayaking, camping, and gardening. He was a life-long learner and loved travelling in the States and Abroad, good food, the music and the arts, and was an avid reader of the classics, biographies, and a great mystery. He loved family.
A memorial service will be held September 28 at 10:00 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 724 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, New York.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18