May 11, 2018

Charles C. “Chuck” Keller, 94, of Washington, formerly of California, died Thursday, May 10, 2018.

He was born June 17, 1923, in Goshen, Ind., a son of the late Isaac C. and Mary Pauline Piatt Keller.

Mr. Keller was a graduate of California High School. He went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from California State Teacher’s College and his juris doctorate degree from University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1949.

He was a lifelong member of California United Methodist Church.

Mr. Keller served as a captain during World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 until 1945. He flew 35 missions as a bomber pilot in the European Theater. He continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve, eventually becoming a lieutenant colonel and a judge advocate general, retiring in 1972.

In 1950, he met his future partner, Ralph Peacock, and eventually formed the law firm Peacock Keller. He retired at age 94, after more than 65 years of legal practice.

Mr. Keller’s passion in life was Rotary. He joined California Rotary Club in 1950. He served in various positions as a Rotarian, including becoming president of Rotary International from 1987 to 1988.

He served as president of Washington County Bar Association in 1965 and as president of Pennsylvania Bar Association from 1982 to 1983. He was very active in Boy Scouts of America and was an Eagle Scout himself. Mr. Keller served on various hospital, health care, government, educational and civic boards.

Mr. Keller was an avid tennis player and a true student of the game. He loved music. He was choir director at his church for 40 years and was an accomplished coronet player. Most of all, Mr. Keller enjoyed spending time with his family. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

On November 5, 1999, he married Carol S. Chiprean, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Jeffrey (Angela) Keller of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Gregory (Patty) Keller of Greensburg; two daughters, Candy Lou (Joe) Clement of Framingham, Mass., and Robin (Chuck) DeHainaut of Pittsburgh; a stepson, Bradley (Rebecca) Chiprean of Natrona Heights; a stepdaughter, Susan Chiprean of Butler; five grandchildren, Tara Lea Brown, Ryan Clement, Carley Cummings, Lindsay Stocco and Caitlin Chiprean; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Deceased, in addition to his parents, are his first wife, Mary Lou Keller, and two sisters, Beatrice Snyder and Marian Fresch.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in Warco-Falvo Funeral Home Inc., corner of Wilson and East Katherine avenues, Washington, S. Timothy Warco, supervisor/director, Susan Falvo Warco, director, S. Timothy Warco II, director. A service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 16, in California United Methodist Church, 227 Third Street, California, PA 15419, with Pastor Dawn Hargraves officiating. Full military rites will be accorded at the church following the service by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 and the U.S. Army. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to California United Methodist Church at the address above.

Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com.