Spurgeon D. Keeth, Sr., a long-time resident of Wapato, WA, passed away on December 28, 2017, in Hammond, OR, at the age of 92. Spurgeon was born in Iberia, MO, on February 6, 1925, to his parents, Henry and Beatrice (Andrews) Keeth. Having lost his mother when he was 6 years old, he lived with relatives until, at age 9, he moved to Sawyer, WA, with his father, brother, and sister.
Spurgeon attended school at Parker Heights, WA, until at age 16 he joined the Army. He was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, at the beginning of WWII, making him a Pearl Harbor Survivor, of which he was very proud. He then went on to serve another three years in the South Pacific including Guadalcanal and Vela-Vela. He returned to the states in 1944 and was honorably discharged in 1945.
Spurgeon returned to Wapato to be with family. There he met his future wife, Ruby Keith. After a short stint in the Merchant Marines, he again returned to Wapato. He and Ruby were married in Wapato August 5, 1946. In 1949 he attended Perry Trade School in the automotive field. He then, in 1950, was employed at the Wapato Irrigation Project, Bureau of Indian Affairs, for the next 30 years, in various capacities, and retired in 1980 as their Shop Superintendent.
After retirement, Spurgeon drove a truck during the fruit harvest, was a substitute bus driver for the Wapato School District, and volunteered at the Yakima Greenway as a courtesy cart driver. He enjoyed bowling, hunting, and fishing, and hunted with his son, Dale, for 30 years. He enjoyed camping and traveling in their RV with his wife. Also their trips to Reno and Hawaii. He enjoyed playing many a card game, especially Pinochle, Cribbage, and Yahtzee, with his family and friends. At one time he coached both his sons in Pee Wee and Little League baseball. He was always very competitive in whatever he did.
Spurgeon built the family home in 1954 and enjoyed living there and raising their family there. He spent many hours in his home workshop fixing things or building things, never wanting to throw anything away. He was very outgoing, never meeting a stranger.
Spurgeon was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Regan, sister Wanda, and step-mother Dora Keeth. He is survived by his wife Ruby of 71 years; two sons Spurgeon (Sharon) Keeth, Jr. of Zillah; Dale (Kathy) Keeth of Selah; two daughters Janet (Mitch) Nickolds of Kennewick; Donna (Scott) Barnett of Oregon; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at Valley Hills Funeral Home (2600 Business Lane) in Terrace Heights, Yakima, WA.
Arrangements by Valley Hills Funeral Home.
Spurgeon attended school at Parker Heights, WA, until at age 16 he joined the Army. He was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, at the beginning of WWII, making him a Pearl Harbor Survivor, of which he was very proud. He then went on to serve another three years in the South Pacific including Guadalcanal and Vela-Vela. He returned to the states in 1944 and was honorably discharged in 1945.
Spurgeon returned to Wapato to be with family. There he met his future wife, Ruby Keith. After a short stint in the Merchant Marines, he again returned to Wapato. He and Ruby were married in Wapato August 5, 1946. In 1949 he attended Perry Trade School in the automotive field. He then, in 1950, was employed at the Wapato Irrigation Project, Bureau of Indian Affairs, for the next 30 years, in various capacities, and retired in 1980 as their Shop Superintendent.
After retirement, Spurgeon drove a truck during the fruit harvest, was a substitute bus driver for the Wapato School District, and volunteered at the Yakima Greenway as a courtesy cart driver. He enjoyed bowling, hunting, and fishing, and hunted with his son, Dale, for 30 years. He enjoyed camping and traveling in their RV with his wife. Also their trips to Reno and Hawaii. He enjoyed playing many a card game, especially Pinochle, Cribbage, and Yahtzee, with his family and friends. At one time he coached both his sons in Pee Wee and Little League baseball. He was always very competitive in whatever he did.
Spurgeon built the family home in 1954 and enjoyed living there and raising their family there. He spent many hours in his home workshop fixing things or building things, never wanting to throw anything away. He was very outgoing, never meeting a stranger.
Spurgeon was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Regan, sister Wanda, and step-mother Dora Keeth. He is survived by his wife Ruby of 71 years; two sons Spurgeon (Sharon) Keeth, Jr. of Zillah; Dale (Kathy) Keeth of Selah; two daughters Janet (Mitch) Nickolds of Kennewick; Donna (Scott) Barnett of Oregon; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at Valley Hills Funeral Home (2600 Business Lane) in Terrace Heights, Yakima, WA.
Arrangements by Valley Hills Funeral Home.
Spurgeon D. Keeth, Sr., a long-time resident of Wapato, WA, passed away on December 28, 2017, in Hammond, OR, at the age of 92. Spurgeon was born in Iberia, MO, on February 6, 1925, to his parents, Henry and Beatrice (Andrews) Keeth. Having lost his mother when he was 6 years old, he lived with relatives until, at age 9, he moved to Sawyer, WA, with his father, brother, and sister.
Spurgeon attended school at Parker Heights, WA, until at age 16 he joined the Army. He was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, at the beginning of WWII, making him a Pearl Harbor Survivor, of which he was very proud. He then went on to serve another three years in the South Pacific including Guadalcanal and Vela-Vela. He returned to the states in 1944 and was honorably discharged in 1945.
Spurgeon returned to Wapato to be with family. There he met his future wife, Ruby Keith. After a short stint in the Merchant Marines, he again returned to Wapato. He and Ruby were married in Wapato August 5, 1946. In 1949 he attended Perry Trade School in the automotive field. He then, in 1950, was employed at the Wapato Irrigation Project, Bureau of Indian Affairs, for the next 30 years, in various capacities, and retired in 1980 as their Shop Superintendent.
After retirement, Spurgeon drove a truck during the fruit harvest, was a substitute bus driver for the Wapato School District, and volunteered at the Yakima Greenway as a courtesy cart driver. He enjoyed bowling, hunting, and fishing, and hunted with his son, Dale, for 30 years. He enjoyed camping and traveling in their RV with his wife. Also their trips to Reno and Hawaii. He enjoyed playing many a card game, especially Pinochle, Cribbage, and Yahtzee, with his family and friends. At one time he coached both his sons in Pee Wee and Little League baseball. He was always very competitive in whatever he did.
Spurgeon built the family home in 1954 and enjoyed living there and raising their family there. He spent many hours in his home workshop fixing things or building things, never wanting to throw anything away. He was very outgoing, never meeting a stranger.
Spurgeon was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Regan, sister Wanda, and step-mother Dora Keeth. He is survived by his wife Ruby of 71 years; two sons Spurgeon (Sharon) Keeth, Jr. of Zillah; Dale (Kathy) Keeth of Selah; two daughters Janet (Mitch) Nickolds of Kennewick; Donna (Scott) Barnett of Oregon; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at Valley Hills Funeral Home (2600 Business Lane) in Terrace Heights, Yakima, WA.
Arrangements by Valley Hills Funeral Home.
Spurgeon attended school at Parker Heights, WA, until at age 16 he joined the Army. He was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, at the beginning of WWII, making him a Pearl Harbor Survivor, of which he was very proud. He then went on to serve another three years in the South Pacific including Guadalcanal and Vela-Vela. He returned to the states in 1944 and was honorably discharged in 1945.
Spurgeon returned to Wapato to be with family. There he met his future wife, Ruby Keith. After a short stint in the Merchant Marines, he again returned to Wapato. He and Ruby were married in Wapato August 5, 1946. In 1949 he attended Perry Trade School in the automotive field. He then, in 1950, was employed at the Wapato Irrigation Project, Bureau of Indian Affairs, for the next 30 years, in various capacities, and retired in 1980 as their Shop Superintendent.
After retirement, Spurgeon drove a truck during the fruit harvest, was a substitute bus driver for the Wapato School District, and volunteered at the Yakima Greenway as a courtesy cart driver. He enjoyed bowling, hunting, and fishing, and hunted with his son, Dale, for 30 years. He enjoyed camping and traveling in their RV with his wife. Also their trips to Reno and Hawaii. He enjoyed playing many a card game, especially Pinochle, Cribbage, and Yahtzee, with his family and friends. At one time he coached both his sons in Pee Wee and Little League baseball. He was always very competitive in whatever he did.
Spurgeon built the family home in 1954 and enjoyed living there and raising their family there. He spent many hours in his home workshop fixing things or building things, never wanting to throw anything away. He was very outgoing, never meeting a stranger.
Spurgeon was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Regan, sister Wanda, and step-mother Dora Keeth. He is survived by his wife Ruby of 71 years; two sons Spurgeon (Sharon) Keeth, Jr. of Zillah; Dale (Kathy) Keeth of Selah; two daughters Janet (Mitch) Nickolds of Kennewick; Donna (Scott) Barnett of Oregon; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at Valley Hills Funeral Home (2600 Business Lane) in Terrace Heights, Yakima, WA.
Arrangements by Valley Hills Funeral Home.
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