Martin Whitney ‘Bud’ Keck
Brownsville must say goodbye to one of its oldest and most dignified residents with the passing on September 8, 2011 of Martin Whitney “Bud” Keck.
Mr. Keck was born in Brownsville on April 18, 1914 and lived most of his life here. He went to school in Brownsville before entering Massa-nutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia. He was a great football player and played varsity football for Brownsville and Massanutten.
Bud was married to Kathryn Davidson of Brownsville on October 4, 1941. Bud served in the United States Navy as a Seabee. The Kecks lived at several naval bases, including Providence, Rhode Island, and Pensacola, Florida.
Mr. Keck served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, returning after the war ended in 1945. The couple and newborn son lived in Brownsville, initially with Mr. Keck’s parents at 128 Prospect Street. Both children, Chad Whitney and Kimbro Ann, were born in Brownsville.
Mr. Keck worked as an iron worker for the American Bridge Company on various construction projects along the eastern seaboard. After the completion in 1950 of the Jones & Laughlin coal preparation plant in La Belle, Pennsylvania, Mr. Keck stayed on as a Master Mechanic and a crew leader.
He presided over the maintenance and periodic renovation of this facility, which at the time, was the largest coal cleaning plant of its type in the world. He retired from J&L and the La Belle plant in 1979.
During this time, Mr. Keck and his family established residence first in Hiller, Pennsylvania, where he kept horses and a pony. He was a fine horseman and appeared periodically on-board Socks, his majestic sorrel gelding, in parades on the Brownsville streets. Mr. Keck moved his family to Malden Place where they maintained a large residence on three acres. He looked after fruit trees, chickens and pigs in addition to his job with J&L.
Fredericktown was the home for Mr. Keck from 1959 to 1963.
Their home along the river was situated near the ferry from Fredericktown to La Belle. Finally, the Kecks moved back to Malden in 1964 and maintained their residence at 429 Old National Pike to this day.
After retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Keck traveled and wintered periodically in warmer climates such as Scottsdale, Arizona, and Punta Gorda, Florida. Bud was a great fisherman and spent many enjoy-able hours fishing in the canals and estuary at Punta Gorda. They traveled often visiting their son Chad who lived in New York and then in California, and their daughter Kimbro who lived first in California and then New York and London. Mr. Keck enjoyed annual fishing trips with his son and grandsons. They fished in Florida, Belize, Mexico, Montana and Alaska.
Mr. Keck was very fond of his granddaughter, Kayleigh Ann, and enjoyed seeing her perform in various pageants and theatrical events.
Mr. and Mrs. Keck were fifty-year members of the Nemacolin Country Club, and they celebrated many important occasions including their fiftieth wedding anniversary and Mr. Keck’s 90th and 95th birthday celebrations at the club. He was a sports car enthusiast and maintained his red Triumph Spitfire convertible throughout his elder years. The last years of his life were spent in relative leisure at the Malden residence. He was blessed with a devoted family, wonderful friends and loving caregivers.
Mr. Keck is survived by his sister, Mary Hartman of Brownsville; his son, Chad Whitney Keck and daughter, Kimbro Ann Keck Gray; five grandchildren: Martin Whitney Keck II, Mathew James Howard Keck, Kayleigh Ann Thadani, Krishan Murli Thadani, Kyle Whitney Thadani and two great-grandchildren Mateo Echeverria Keck and Avahna Sofia Keck.
He was an extraordinary human being who was loved by all. He will be missed.
Friends are welcome to say farewell at the NOVAK FUNERAL HOME, 515 Front Street, Brownsville, Pennsylvania, Wed. September 14, 2011, from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. A Funeral Service to celebrate Martin’s life will be held following visitation at 5 p.m.
Interment will follow in Lafayette Memorial Park, Brier Hill, Pennsylvania.
Contributions can be made in Martin’s name to his friends’ charity of choice.
To sign the online guest book, please log onto www.novakfuneralhome.net
A gathering of friends and family will be held following interment services at the cemetery.