Robert D. Keith

Robert Denney Keith (aka "Denney") age 72, entered into eternal rest on Friday morning after a brief bout with gall bladder cancer. Denney was born to Hardy and Mina Mae Duderstadt Keith April 22, 1936, in Beeville, TX where his dad worked in "oil patch." After the death of Hardy in a Louisiana airplane crash in 1947, Mina Mae moved Denney and his 2 younger brothers to San Antonio where the kids attended Hot Wells Elementary/ Junior High School, graduating from Brackenridge High School. Judith Ann McFadden and Denney married at Riverside Baptist Church, San Antonio, TX, July 1, 1961, and moved to Lubbock, TX, for Denney to complete a B. S. In Electrical Engineering from Texas Technological College in 1963. Denney was an NCO in the U. S. Air National Guard in San Antonio, from 1954-1961. Upon graduation from Tech, he worked for Collins Radio Corporation in Garland, TX, LTV Electrosystems working on a black program. Next, he was hired by SYT Corporation in El Paso, TX. In December of 1973, he was employed by the Office of Missile and Electronic Warfare at White Sands Missile Range as an EMI Officer on the Patriot Missile System. Later, at Ft. Hood, he developed programs that lead to the development of the GPS which is in wide use today, two-way communication systems. Retired January 3, 2003, he and Judy moved to Cloudcroft, NM, for a year of mountain living. After building their dream home, they moved to Las Cruces on June 17, 2004, and lived until the present time. Denney was also employed part-time doing contract work as a Subject Matter Expert with ESEI.and GaN Corporation at White Sand Missile Range and Ft. Bliss. Denney's interests were many and varied - rock collecting where he was a member of the Gem and Mineral Club in San Antonio; he was a past president of the Las Cruces Gemcrafters and Explorers' Club and had just joined the local Cactus Club. Rocks and minerals were always a passion of his, as well as arrowhead and Indian artifact hunting and astronomy. He had a great love for and volunteered for the Boy Scouts of America where he served as Scoutmaster in Dallas and El Paso. As such he was also a member of the Order of the Order, Mikanokwa Lodge. It was his great joy seeing his son, Russ, become an Eagle Scout in El Paso. Four wheel driving was another interest, and he was a member and past president of the El Paso 4X4 Club. He and Judi were members of First Baptist Church, Lubbock, El Paso, Belton, Cloudcroft, and finally Las Cruces. As a deacon, he served his fellow man in this capacity at FBC Cloudcroft and ordained at Coronado Baptist in El Paso. His love for God and Jesus Christ were a paramount passion in his life. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Judith Ann, his son, Russell Prescott Keith, daughter-in-law, Holly Thrush Keith, much-loved grandson, Carson Joseph Keith, age 3 and granddaughter, Madelyn Kathleen Keith age 1 of Belton, TX. Brothers Franklin and Bill live in San Antonio, TX, with their spouses, Sandy and Debbie, and children -, Rollie and Warren Keith, Susan Sankey, Brett, Erin, Anna and Warren Keith, and Carol Cash. His mother's second marriage graced Denney's mother and brothers with four Zadik sisters, Barbara Moeller of Edmond Oklahoma, Nina Kopf of Spartanburg, SC, Janice Anabtawi of San Antonio, Geraldine Smith of Stillwater, OK, their husbands, children and grandchildren. Uncle Wilmer and Aunt Peggy Duderstadt of San Antonio, Mary Deason of Austin, and a "passle" of cousins who were/are still very close comprise this large, funny, warm family. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Monday, April 20, 2009 at Getz Funeral Home. Funeral Services to celebrate Robert's life are at 11 AM on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at First Baptist Church 106 South Miranda, Las Cruces, NM with Dr. Maurice Hollingsworth officiating. PDF Printable Version