Virginia Keller

Virginia B. Keller, 91, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, March 1, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

She was born Feb. 28, 1918, at Hubble Township in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of Elbert L. and Pauline Brase Whitler. She and Dewey M. Keller were married Oct. 5, 1940, at Zion Lutheran Church Parsonage near Gordonville, Mo. She lived the rest of her life with her husband at their residence on Highway 25 near Gordonville.

Virginia was a graduate of Jackson High School and Cape Girardeau Beauty School. In her early life she worked at the shoe factory in Jackson and then operated a beauty shop in her home for many years.

She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church on Highway 25 south of Gordonville and was the first Lifetime Member of Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary. She was also active in sports, especially bowling and golf.

Survivors include her husband, Dewey; two daughters, Janet Keller (Ronald) Werner of Cape Girardeau and Nancy Keller (R.D. "Jack") Donovan of Gavilan Hills, Calif.; two granddaughters, Deborah Werner (Robert) Bessette of Phoenix and Kimberly Werner Mills of Cape Girardeau; two great-grandchildren, Aric Tyler Holzbauer and Morgan Arica Berner; a brother, Leon (Carol) Whitler of Jackson; and many nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter, Patricia, who died at birth; brother, Louis Whitler; and two sisters-in-law, Minnie Whitler and Geraldine Whitler.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Zion Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Wayne Schwiesow officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church Building Fund, 176 County Road 226, Gordonville, Mo., 63701.