Posted by Joseph H Gilbreth on June 18, 2005:

This obituary was provided by Charlie's daughter Kathy Wheeler. -------- Charles Thomas Keffer of Lakeway, Texas passed away peacefully at the family home surrounded by his loved ones June 3, 2005. Charlie was the son of Willie Hale and Lott Thomas Keffer on October 6, 1926 in Seymour Texas. An outstanding student and gifted athlete, Charlie received a senatorial and congressional appointment to West Point Military Academy. "RED DOG", as his classmates referred to him, played defensive end for West Point's championship football team. He also boxed for the Academy. After graduating, he met and married lifelong Waco resident Allyne Compton and the couple began their 55year adventure together. Charlie served as a pilot overseas, retiring from the U.S. Air Force as a Captain. He then began a career with Atlantic-Richfield that took the couple to Dallas, where he a earned his Masters of Science in Engineering from S.M.U. They also lived in Alaska twice as well as California twice. They always partook of the many activities available to them wherever they went. In Alaska, they salmon fished, enjoyed part ownership of a gold mine, made gold nugget jewelry, and Charlie continued to enjoy aviation as a private pilot. In California, the Keffers enjoyed the many golf courses and Charlie began a lifelong interest in personal computing, developing software programs along the way. They also enjoyed thoroughbred horseracing and were owners of several horses through the years. Charlie's career was recognized many times as he had direct responsibility for Prudhoe Bay's oil and gas development as Managing Project Engineer. He was named Engineer of the Year during his tenure. Retiring to his beloved Texas in 1991, Charlie belonged to the Lakeway Men's Golf Association and enjoyed his ownership of a pecan orchard near San Saba. He also enjoyed those leisurely day trips to the orchard; always stopping for barbequed ribs in Lampassas and coconut cream pie at the Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls. Charlie is survived by his loving wife Allyne; two daughters: Kathlyne Wheeler and her husband Ken of Spicewood, Texas, and Suzanne Thom and her husband Philip of Gamiel, Arkansas. In addition, he is survived by two grandsons: Charles Andrew Wheeler (also a pilot) and his wife Rebecca, and Bryan Jon Wheeler (a college student). He also leaves behind his sister, Mary Ellen Cobb and family and his brother, Joe Lindsay Keffer and family. Charlie is preceded in death by both parents and an older brother, Lott Thomas, Jr. Graveside service under the direction of Dr. Steve Mansen of Central Christian Church were held at the Compton family plot in Oakwood Cemetery, Waco, Texas June 6, 2005. The family has suggested contributions to The American Heart Association or The National Parkinson Foundation.

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