Albert T. Keeler

February 24, 1922 – October 5, 2006

ALBERT T. KEELER, "AL" Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.) formerly of Stevensville, Pennsylvania passed away on his 62nd wedding anniversary, October 5, 2006 in Prince Frederick, Maryland. Col. Keeler died from complications of returning prostate cancer

He attended Camptown High School, graduating in the Class of 1939. He enrolled at Ithaca College in the Fall of 1939 as a student in the Public School Music Supervisor Course. Col. Keeler was an accomplished violinist.

He discontinued college in his sophomore year, knowing that he would be going into military service with the advent of World War II. In February of 1943 he was called as an enlisted Air Cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Binghamton, New York. A member of the 95th Bomb Group Association, Col. Keeler flew B-17s over Europe during 1944, returning home in the fall to marry his sweetheart, Donna Marie Bennett of Towanda, Pennsylvania on October 5, 1944.

Col. Keeler left the military after WWII, working for IBM and then opened a jewelry store with his brother, Harry Keeler in Endicott, New York. In the fall of 1952 Col. Keeler was recalled to the now United States Air Force, serving in the 13th Bomb Squadron flying B-26s in the Korean War. After this war, Col. Keeler continued as an officer in the USAF, flying B-57 jets, taking his family to many tours of duty. While stationed at Andrews AFB near Washington D.C. in 1962, Col. Keeler flew T-39 Transport Sabreliners, transporting Heads of State and VIPs. In November 1966, Col. Keeler left his family for a tour of duty in Viet Nam, first flying his T-39s and then bombing missions in his B-57 out of Phan Rang, South Viet Nam.

Col. Keeler returned to the states and continued to fly T-39s from Andrews AFB, Maryland until his formal retirement in October 1970. He had logged in over 10,000 total flying hours. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and five air medals. In 1956 he received a “Well Done” award from the USAF for safely landing a B-57B in a double engine flame-out.

He successfully completed and published his autobiography, VIP Pilot in 2001. Previously in 1988, he published a book called Caring for Your Antique Clock. In addition to being an ace pilot, musician, and watch and clock expert, he was also an accomplished cinematographer. He created a documentary film on Alaska entitled “Eight Stars of Gold.”

Col. Albert T. Keeler is survived by his daughter, Martha Keeler Phelps and her husband, Donald Wallace Phelps, of Prince Frederick Maryland, his granddaughter, Katharine Marie Phelps, of Salisbury, North Carolina, and his son, Robert Charles Keeler.

A military service with full honors will be performed at Arlington Cemetery, Virginia at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 8, 2006 with interment following with his beloved wife, Donna.