GENE F. MCKEEL
Mar. 22, 1940 - Dec. 10, 2006
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Gene Franklin McKeel, 66, formerly of Princeton, died Sunday at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News, Va., after a long illness. Mr. McKeel was born March 22, 1940 in Johnston County to the late Roby and Elizabeth McKeel one of ten siblings. He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Hazel McKeel, and one brother, Ralph McKeel. He attended Princeton High School and later Crumpler Business College in Goldsboro, N.C. He began a career in 1963 with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company as a salesman in the Goldsboro Service Store. In 1964 he transferred to Portsmouth, Va., as Credit Manager of the Portsmouth Goodyear Store. Later, he was promoted to store manager of the Hampton store. During his career with Goodyear, Mr. McKeel received various awards for outstanding service to the company. After medically retiring in 1971, he became a part-time volunteer with the Peninsula Literacy Council in York County, serving as a tutor for illiterate adults. He later volunteered for several years in the Patrick Henry Convalescent Center in Newport News.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 14, at Casey Funeral Home in Princeton with the Rev. Ferrell Hardison and Richard McKeel officiating. Burial will follow in the Evans Family Cemetery in Pine Level.
He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law; Gene F. McKeel Jr., and wife, Diane of Yorktown, Va., Marcus A. McKeel and wife, Carol, of Greenville, S.C.; former wife and friend, Jackie McKeel of Yorktown, Va.; brothers, Willie McKeel of Princeton, Worth McKeel of Goldsboro, Billy Ray McKeel of Selma and Richard McKeel of Selma; sisters, Adele Boykin of Garner, Rachel Parrish of Goldsboro, and Evelyn Allen of Smithfield; granddaughters, Hannah and Jaimie McKeel of Greenville, S.C.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 13, at Casey Funeral Home in Princeton.
(Written & Paid by the Family)
Published in Obituaries on December 12, 2006 1:46 PM