KELLER-BRUCE

 

CAPT BRUCE W. KELLER

      CAPT Bruce W. Keller, SC, USN, retired 1 June after 32 years of active navel service.  He was serving on the Staff, Commander U. S. Naval Base, Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines.

       Born on 21 May 1924, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1942 and served until 1944.  In June 1946 he was commissioned an Ensign in the Supply Corps of the U.S. Navy.  His Duty stations included: Naval Air Station, Saipan, Mariana Islands, Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Rhode Island; USS KULA GULF (CVA-108); USS PRESTON (DD-795); Navy Aviation Supply Depot, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Naval Base, Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines: Office of the Assistant Secretary of  Defense, Washington, DC; Aviation Supply Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, and Military Sea Transportation Service, Washington, DC; Supply Officer, USS INTREPID (CVS-11); and Defense Supply Agency, Cameron Station Alexandria Virginia.

     CAPT Keller received the Meritorious Service Medal for “outstanding meritorious service from January 1968 to June 1973 while serving with the Defense Supply Agency as Chief of the Defense Productivity Measurement Office; as Staff Director, Administrative Support Center,: and the Navy Commendation Medal for “meritorious service while serving as Supply Officer of the USS INTREPID (CVS-11) in the transitioning of that unit to an all-attack role from 15 September 1965 to 14 May 1966.”

     CAPT Keller and his wife, Fran, live in San Diego, CA.

         

Obituary-Keller, Bruce Capt. Bruce W. Keller, SC, USN (retired), passed away at home on Sept 5, 2012.

Bruce was born May 21, 1924. In June 1946 he was commissioned as Ensign in the Supply Corps of the US Navy. His duty stations included Aircraft Carriers US Kula Gulf and USS Intrepid; Destroyer USS Preston; Naval Air Stations on Saipan, Mariana Islands and Quonset Point, RI; Navy Aviation Supply Depot, Phila.Pa; Naval Base Subic Bay, Luzon, PI; Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Wash.DC; Aviation Supply Office, Philadelphia, PA; Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, and Military Sea Transportation Service, Washington, DC; and Defense Supply Agency, Alexandria, VA

After retirement from the Navy in 1975, he was employed by Wawanesa Insurance Company as Underwriting Manager and Marketing Rep.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Fran; a niece Audrey Delong; nephews Bill Kerper, Gerald Kerper, Richard Deppen, Keith Kerper, Neal Keller; "Guardian" nieces and nephew, Barbara Hyde, Charles Breinig; Carol Johnson; and several grand nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held September 28th at 2PM at the First United Methodist Church, 2111 Camino Del Rio S., Mission Valley, San Diego.

Memorial contributions may be made to: United States Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave N.W., Suite 123, Wash DC 20004-2608, or to a charity of your choice.

Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery on December 4, 2012.

 

Capt Bruce W. Keller, (SC) USN (Ret)

Bruce was born in Oley Line, Pa., a small hamlet near Reading, Pa. He attended schools in the Reading area and graduated from Reading High School.

Just after Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he enlisted in the military. After some months, he entered the Navy ROTC Program and was sent to Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. That is where he met Fran. Upon completing the training at Hampden-Sydney, he transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C., and received his commission as Ensign in the U.S. Navy. Bruce and Fran were married the next day.

Upon retirement from the Navy, the Keller’s settled in San Diego, CA where he joined the Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company. Bruce and Fran were members of the First United Methodist Church in Mission Valley, San Diego.

Bruce enjoyed playing tennis and golf, and was member of the Men's Club at Miramar Marine Air Station. Bruce and Fran played many courses thru out California, Arizona, Nevada, and Western United States.

He had a wonderful sense of humor. He loved music and dancing... and eating good food, a warm, caring, thoughtful, and generous man. Bruce and Fran were married for sixty-six years. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Submitted by his wife Fran Keller, November 2012