Ralph Keller

Ralph Waldo Keller Passed away peacefully on Sat., November 3 at Stanford University Hospital. He is survived by his wife Jane Kephart Keller to whom he was married for 68 years; sons, Richard O. Keller and James W. Keller; daughter, Barbara Keller Stone; son-in-law, Stuart Stone; daughters-in-law, Debra Keller and Joan Keller; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchil dren, sister Vivian Cassel and loving care-takers Biula Mali Mali, Fehi Finau, and Vei Finau.

Ralph was born at home in Rio, West Virginia on December 23, 1916 to Arthur Keller who worked for the local newspaper and Bettie Keller a teacher. Ralph graduated from the University of Maryland in 1938 with a BS in physical education where he was a member of Delta Sigma Chi fraternity and a star catcher on the baseball team. Ralph taught high school PE and English until he went on active duty with the U. S. Army in 1941. During his military career he was assigned to the Pentagon, Atlanta, Georgia, Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, Stanford University, and Tel Aviv, Israel where he was U. S. Air Attaché and special assistant to the secretary of the Air Force for three years. While at Stanford he received his master's degree in 1947 and his doctorate in education in 1951. In 1965 Ralph retired from the Air Force and took the position of director of career planning and placement at Stanford University until 1985. After his second retirement he became the associate dean for Alumni Relations for the school of education. Ralph and his wife Jane continued to live on the Stanford campus where he remained active in university and community activities. He was a member of the Palo Alto Rotary Club, the American Legion, Fellowship Forum and SIRS until his death. Ralph was in the process of writing a book titled Chaos in the Holy Lands, which unfortunately he was unable to finish.

Ralph's entire family and all of his friends will miss this brilliant, gentle, kind and loving man who always saw the best in everyone and put the needs of others before his own.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Ralph's Life at the Stanford University Memorial Church on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 4 PM. A reception will follow at the Stanford Faculty Club. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations to be sent to either the Alzheimer's Association or the American Cancer Society.
Published in the San Francisco Chronicle on 11/15/2007.