Keith was the wunderkind of all the cousins. I was the eldest of the grandchildren, and Keith was next in age to me. While Keith lived on The Farm (see entry 18 Feb), and I lived in town, we did have our times together. Mom (see entry 5 Feb) was the family's babysitter, so the cousins had time to get acquainted with each other even though we lived in different cities or different parts of the county. 

Besides, during summer vacations, we took turns visiting the various aunts and uncles. We were a fairly close-knit extended family.

Keith was sweet-natured, but full of fun, too. Good looking, and better looking as he got older. In high school he was very popular with the girls, but I don't remember his being serious about anyone. Marian would know more about that as they went to the same high school. (I completed high school elsewhere, and I may write something about that at another time). Anyway...to continue.

I don't want anyone to think that Keith was a bore, or a "goody two-shoes" because I extol his virtues. He was anything but. He had his fun, and it wasn't always exactly the "good boy" fun. His britches might have been burned a couple times. But he was, basically, a good person.

As I said, Keith was the wunderkind. His peers, especially the girls, liked him, his teachers liked him, all the relatives thought him wonderful. He was a good student and a good athlete. He played football, and was good enough to have a career in the Army. That takes an explanation, I think.

When Keith enlisted in the Army, he was a big, strapping farm boy. Fodder for the Infantry. Instead, because of his athletic prowess, he was assigned to a special unit -- I think it was called Special Services, but I'm not sure that's the right term -- that was part of the military's version of the USO. Talented servicemen were sent wherever American troops were to entertain and shore up the morale of personnel overseas. Keith ended up in the Army's football team. He was in Japan for awhile and sent back some interesting letters and brought home some artwork and trinkets.

Aunt Nettie many, many years later still had some teacups Keith had sent home from Japan.

There's an old folk saying that the good die young. In this case it was true.

This has been so long ago that my memory may be faulty (Marian will correct me if I disremember). I believe Keith was still in the Army when it was discovered that he had Hodgkin's Disease. It's highly curable disease now, but then it was a death sentence. And it was for Keith. He was 26 years old when he died.

I hate to end this on such a sad note, and I have to believe that his life's purpose on this earth had been served. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 it says:

And Keith lived his life well and honorably. And when his time came, he knew he was being called Home and rewarded for living a Godly life.

Shalom