May 11, 2018 4 min read

Rick Amrhein, managing partner of Peacock Keller & Ecker, said Charles Keller had five major sources of pride: his family, his military experiences, community involvement, Rotary and the legal profession.

“Clearly, family was first,” Amrhein said Friday. “I don’t know how you would rate the other four.”

How about 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d?

Keller, 94, a Washington attorney for 67 years, died Thursday, one month shy of his 95th birthday. No other details about his passing were immediately available. He was living in Chartiers Township.

Born June 17, 1923, in Goshen, Ind., six years before the Depression began, Keller grew up in and was a longtime resident of California, Pa. He founded his firm in 1950 along with Ralph Peacock, a practice that eventually expanded to five locations – Washington, Bridgeville, Claysville, Peters Township and Waynesburg – and 18 attorneys.

Keller, known informally as Chuck, entered the profession during the Truman administration, but officially retired only last July. Until then, he came to work on virtually a daily basis, displaying his trademark friendly demeanor.

“He was a gentleman. I don’t recall seeing him lose his temper,” said Amrhein, who worked with Keller for 33 years. “He had a really good sense of humor. He liked to tell people, ‘I go from California to Washington every day for work.'”

A dedicated tennis player, Keller served the public in many winning ways. Philanthropy was a major motivator. In a 2007 interview, he told Michael Bradwell, the Observer-Reporter’s business editor at the time, philanthropy “means ‘loving mankind.’ It’s not just for the wealthy. I think philanthropy is for everybody who is of a giving nature.”

Betsie Trew, president and chief executive officer of Washington County Community Foundation, called Keller her “mentor.” He was a founding member of the foundation who incorporated it, wrote its bylaws and was board chairman.

“His impact on the community was tremendous, and his impact on me was tremendous,” Trew said. “He taught me about philanthropy, about what I do. We named our corporate philanthropy award in honor of him because he lived that way, day in and day out.”

Tom Northrop, publisher of the Observer-Reporter, said Keller was “a kind, thoughtful man who understood the value of philanthropy.”

Rotary International was another public passion. Keller was involved with the service organization for decades, and his tenure as president sent him around the globe.

“The Rotary motto is ‘Service Above Self,'” Northrop said. “That’s how Chuck lived his life.”

Kathy Sabol, executive director of Washington County Bar Association, said Keller called her office last week to talk about how much he liked Law Day, a local event held every May 1 for students in second grade through high school.

His life was as busy as it was long. At various times, Keller also was president of Washington County Easter Seal Society, Mon Valley United Way, Mon Valley Hospital, Mon Valley Health and Welfare Council, Washington County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and California Area Chamber of Commerce.

Even his military career was conducted on a grand scale. Keller was a World War II U.S. Army Air Corps pilot who flew 35 missions over Western Europe. One time, he and his crew survived a direct hit from German guns.

Trew said during his travels, Keller “was able to meet a gentleman who also was a WWII pilot – but from Japan. They were enemies! But through the Rotary, they became the best of friends.”

She added Keller enjoyed speaking with young people and was steadfast “in trying to solve the problem of world peace. People may say achieving that may be a joke. It wasn’t with him.”

The son of an English professor at what is now known as California University of Pennsylvania, Keller graduated from Cal U. with three bachelor’s degrees and an award for involvement in school clubs and activities. Following the war, he attended law school at University of Pittsburgh.

Keller and his first wife, Mary Lou, had four children. She died unexpectedly, and a decade later, Keller married Carol, who survives him.

His death will have a wide impact throughout the region, beyond the California-to-Washington punchline he liked to use.

“I miss him already,” Trew said.

“He will be very much missed,” Sabol said. “People call him a pillar of the community. I feel that no one can replace that pillar.”

Warco-Falvo Funeral Home Inc. in Washington is handling funeral arrangements. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in California United Methodist Church. Burial will be private.