Ruth Whitney Keeler, 95, passed away on Thursday, April 12, 2018 in Mobile, AL. Ruth was a native of Mobile, born to Edward Louis Whitney and Olga O’Connor Whitney on January 1, 1923. She lived in Mobile all of her life, except for when she attended Nursing School at Touro in New Orleans, and when she joined the Army and was stationed on a hospital ship in the Philippines during World War II. Ruth worked at Frank S. Keeler Tuberculosis Hospital, and in her 50's, retired and became a medical transcriptionist.
Mrs. Keeler was a strong, independent woman. She always had to be in charge. Every Thursday, she spent the entire day cleaning her house from top to bottom – so much that people knew not to call or try to make plans that day of the week. She loved playing games. She was an avid Duplicate Bridge player, in which she earned her Life Masters. She also enjoyed playing Scrabble, Bunko, and with her family would often play Spite and Malice. Ruth would frequently ask, “Do you want to play a game of something?”, because she had to constantly be doing something. She was a member of the Mobile Bridge Center. She would have a game at her house every Monday.
Ruth was an artist, taking art classes as recently as last week. She enjoyed taking her great-granddaughter, Whitney, to dance class on Mondays and then taking her out to dinner after. She loved her children, grandchild, great-grandchild, and her dogs, especially Murphy. Ruth was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Bernard Keeler; her parents, Edward Louis Whitney and Olga Whitney; two sisters, Louise McDonald and Patricia Wood; and one brother, Edward Whitney.
She is survived by her three children, Christine Keeler Portenga (Gary); Ann Elizabeth "Libba" Vanderbeek (Glen), and Daniel Mark Keeler (Rebecca); one granddaughter, Nicole Portenga Neese (Fredrick); one great-granddaughter, Whitney Marie Neese; one sister, Margaret Smith; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and other cherished family and friends.
Visitation will be held at Pine Crest Funeral Home on Dauphin Island Parkway in Mobile on Monday, April 16, 2018, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., with a chapel service immediately following. Interment will be in Pine Crest Cemetery, with a reception in the funeral home after the committal service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Luke’s Episcopal, or the charity of your choice.
