Russell W. McKeen

Russell W. McKeen, 86, of Bentleyville, died Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at home after a long fight with cancer.

He was born February 14, 1922 in Pittsburgh, a son of William and Myrtle Pifer McKeen.

A veteran of World War II, he served with the U.S. Navy in both the European and Asiatic theaters and participated in the evacuation of Singapore in January 1942. He also aided in the defense and liberation of the Philippine Islands.

Mr. McKeen retired from Monongahela Connecting Railroad, where he worked as a conductor, brakeman and towerman.

He later worked as a sales counselor for Jefferson Memorial Park, Pittsburgh.

He was a member and elder of the Pigeon Creek United Presbyterian Church, Eighty Four.

Mr. McKeen was also a member of the Guthrie Masonic Lodge in Pleasant Hills and the Pennsylvania American Legion.

Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Ruth L. Watkins McKeen; two daughters and sons-in-law, Monti and James Stacey of Dallas, Texas and Lisa and Roger Szuminsky of Bentleyville; six grandchildren, Matthew, Andrew, Peter, Steven, David and Sadie; a sister, Thelma Riley of Baldwin and several nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home, Inc., 809 Main Street, Bentleyville (724-239-2255) and from 1 to 2 p.m., Sunday, July 6, the hour of service, at the Pigeon Creek United Presbyterian Church, 45 Church Road, Eighty Four with Rev. Raymond R. Bruno, officiating. Burial will be on Monday, July 7 at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville. The Guthrie Masonic Lodge will hold a service at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Donnell House, c/o Hospice Care of The Washington Hospital, 155 Wilson Ave., Washington, PA 15301.

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To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Russell W. McKeen, please visit our floral store.