Alberta Ann Keith, age 92, of Louisville, Kentucky, left her earthly body and moved on to her eternal life with Jesus and those who went before her on September 27, 2022. She battled dementia for eight years; her body failed her over this time however she proved to us that “old age ain’t for sissies” which she would frequently say to anyone who would listen.
Alberta was born in February of 1930 to Cris and Zella Gastinger, the fifth of seven children. Her father became ill and died at age 41 during the 1937 flood. She was seven years old at the time and heartbroken because in her words, he was the best, kindest, sweetest daddy to have ever lived. She would often speak of him and say how much she loved him, and to look at his picture, there was no doubt she was his child. Her mother lived a long life and died in 1994 at age 93 after having single-handedly raised seven children. Her mother was the kind of mother who called all her girls every day. They were remarkably close, attending the same church together all of Alberta’s life, every Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night prayer meeting. Alberta loved her siblings and spoke fondly of them and they of her.
In Alberta’s words, she married the best man in Camp Taylor, and her mother agreed. The story told repeatedly by both Alberta and Billy is that she was getting all fixed up one day and her mother asked where she thought she was going. She replied, a date, to which her mother asked with who, and after learning it was Billy Keith, she began to help her get ready. She and Billy started dating in 1946 when she was 16 and they married in 1949. Her first child was born in 1950 and her last and seventh child was born in 1965.
Alberta was a homemaker, and she ran the home well. At one time she dealt with three different school schedules for six children, caring for a baby and a husband, all of whom she fixed breakfast for, packed lunches, made sure they were dressed appropriately, neat and clean, and when they got home, they had supper on the table and made sure the homework was done and all to bed at an appropriate time. She “babysat” for neighbors and family while raising her own children and they were all treated as her own. And please, do not call children “kids,” they are not goats, she would correct you every time.
Alberta and Billy tended to their large garden over the years; family enjoyed the tomatoes, green beans, corn, and a host of other homegrown goodies. Her kitchen was hopping with mason jars and the old school pressure cooker as she canned and filled the shelves for the winter ahead. Her chow-chow and canned tomatoes were the best. The last of her jarred goods was used recently to make chili. She made jam and then there were pies. Those who were lucky enough to be at her table got to enjoy the best fried chicken, homemade biscuits, homemade donuts, no-bake cookies (aka “Cow Pies”), made from scratch chocolate cake with warm homemade vanilla pudding poured over a slice. There were brown paper bags full of popcorn and popcorn balls, and so many other tasty foods made with love for all to enjoy.
Alberta’s many grandchildren remember her for the countless hours of playing with them. Her Big Red gum, big wash tubs outside, Easter egg hunts in the huge yard, big family meals, and teaching them how to thread a needle and sewing. They remember her swishing a paper fan in church, eating her vegetable soup and chocolate covered crackers when they were sick; singing God Bless America and all the old church hymns with them; hiding from her in the “Harry Potter” closet under the stairs. They remember getting into things and playing with all the knick-knacks from Alberta and Billy’s world travels. She taught them about all the household things like cooking, cleaning, and laundry, all the while being extremely patient, even-tempered (no matter how much of a mess was being made). Her nieces and nephews loved to be at her home and begged to stay over because there was an abundance of love and a sense of belonging. Alberta loved children and it showed.
Her children remember her strong and steady presence, her availability, kindness, humor, wittiness and all the mom things she taught so well - like how to make the best iced tea. There was discipline which included timeouts, the occasional switch that was picked off the tree by the offender, a house shoe, fly swatter, hairbrush or whatever was handy to get their attention; and she did not wait until dad got home. She was physically strong and if she got ahold of you, you were not getting away. She was the ultimate role model, and no one ended up a criminal, so she a did good job. Her children and grandchildren were her proudest accomplishments.
As a wife, it was clear that Billy was her everything. Through the past few years living with dementia, it was only a few times that she was looking for the “young” Billy and didn’t recognize the “old” Billy. When he came into her room, her eyes would light up and she would get that finger up and motion him to come in close for a kiss. When he cared for her at home, she would come down the stairs in the morning and see him drinking hot tea at the kitchen table and she would say “who’s that good looking man” with a huge smile on her face. Having spent 76 years together, 73 as a married couple, they truly were “one”. They traveled the world together and especially loved Hawaii. She once said that if someone told her as a teen she would be standing on the Great Wall of China, she would have called them crazy. They had their disagreements like all couples but always worked through them. They were steady and faithful to each other and their family, a shining example of honoring each other in sickness and health, till death parts us.
Above all, Alberta was a woman of God and she lived out her faith. She always had Christian music playing and she sang all the songs, off-key, but she made a joyful noise to the Lord! She faithfully participated in church and all their activities like Sunday School, vacation Bible school, church camp every Summer, special events, paperwork, donations, and personally donating to mission work and Christian Schools. Alberta prayed for her family, friends, neighbors, and those in need. She prayed continuously as she endured her later years and she would say over and over “Help me Jesus,” and she would continue to pray for her children and Billy. She was a witness and an example to all of those who cared for her, they knew something was different about her, and she was a joy to be around. She loved and trusted Jesus and was a good and faithful servant all her life. She left a legacy and those who were lucky enough to know her felt her impact.
Alberta is preceded in death by her parents, Cris and Zella Gastinger, her sisters Evelyne, Dorothy, Luerline, Zella and brother Cris, Jr, her son Dennis, and son-in-law Doug Lee.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband Billy; daughters, Sharon, Diana (Mike), Elaine, Ruby (David); daughter-in-law, Linda (Dennis) and; sons, Darrell (Becky) and Jeff; 19 grandchildren; 38 great and great-great grandchildren; 9 step-grandchildren (66 total); one brother, Jimmy; and many-many nieces and nephews.
The family is grateful for the staff and leadership at Sanders Ridge Health Campus for their excellent care, compassion and love they showed to Alberta, and her soulmate Billy. They truly have loved on them and were as heartbroken as the family when she passed. The family is also grateful to the faithful members of their church, Atwood Wesleyan, who called daily to check on them and faithfully lifted them up in prayer. The family would like to extend a thank you to the members of the current church Billy attends in Shepherdsville.
Visitation will be held on Monday, October 3, 2022 from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Arch L. Heady and Son’s Funeral Home, 3601 Taylor Blvd, Louisville, KY 40215. A service to honor the life of Alberta will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at the funeral home. Alberta will be laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in her honor to Atwood Wesleyan Church, Missions Department, 508 Atwood Str, Louisville, Kentucky 40217.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17