Donald L. Keffer OD

Donald L. Keffer, O.D. age 92, of Centennial, Colorado, a longtime resident of Athens, Ohio, and native of New Philadelphia, died peacefully in his home Tursday, July 19, 2007. Born at New Philadelphia, Ohio, August 31, 1914, he was a son of the late Louis and Emma Hawk Keffer. He graduated from New Philadelphia in 1932 and continued his education at The Ohio State University where he studied and received his Doctorate in Optometry in 1942. For the next thirty-seven years, Dr. Keffer and his wife, the late Elsie M. Pemberton Keffer, would reside in Athens, Ohio where he practiced optometry. Dr. Keffer was a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Athens, Ohio, a supporter of the Green and White Booster Club which supported Ohio University Athletics, served as a former Deacon and member of the First Presbyterian Church at Athens. Throughout his life, Dr. Keffer was a member of the Ohio State University Alumni Association and the Ohio Optometric Association. Dr. Keffer retired in 1979. In 1984, they relocated to Lancaster to be closer to family living in the area before moving west to the Denver area fifteen years ago. Mrs. Keffer died October 14, 1998 following fifty-eight years of marriage in which Dr. Keffer demonstrated his loving care for his wife during her extended illness. In the twilight of his life, Dr. Keffer enjoyed keeping up to date on the progress of his family and maintained a quick-witted sense of humor. He also enjoyed the regular challenge of a cross-word puzzle. Dr. and Mrs. Keffer are survived by two daughters and a son, Lou Ellen (husband Thomas) White of Dataw Island, South Carolina and Gineta Possehl of Decatur, Georgia, and son Michael A. (wife Gail) Keffer of Centennial, Colorado. A daughter, Lou Etta Keffer, died in infancy. The Keffer family also includes six grandchildren, Gwen (husband Scott Brooks) and Amy (Anthony) Dicken of Athens, Ohio, Derek White of Columbus, Ohio, Erin White of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Grant and Margo Possehl of Decatur, Georgia. Two great-grandchildren Mitchell Keffer Dicken and Sydney Keffer Dicken, as well as a sister, Marian Pfeiffer, of New Philadelphia, and a sister-in-law Shirley Strickmaker, and two nephews Ronald and Raymond Strickmaker Jr., all of Athens, complete the family. In addition to his parents, wife and daughter, Dr. Keffer was preceded in death by his brothers-in-law Albert Lohman, Edwin Pfeiffer and Raymond Strickmaker Sr. Friends are invited to call Tuesday afternoon from 4 until 6 in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory, 116 Second Street NE New Philadelphia where the Reverend Hugh B. Berry will lead Dr. Keffer’s funeral ceremony Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 in the funeral home’s chapel. Burial, alongside his wife, will follow in East Avenue Cemetery. A reception for family and friends will follow the committal service in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.