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Basil Stroh Keller passed away peacefully January 15th at the age of 97 at Consulate Health Care in Vero Beach, Florida.
Born in Hollywood, CA,  Basil was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Irvin Basil Keller and Helen Stroh Keller, and his wife of 58 years, Leslie Byrd Keller. He is survived by a sister, Anna Jane Shoemaker of Spokane, WA; 2 sons, Dr. Irvin B. Keller and wife Donna of Vero Beach, FL, (ret) SGT First Class Leslie B. Keller of Kansas City, KS; one daughter, Helen K. Holt and husband Bob of Midlothian, VA; 11 grandchildren, Kelly, Bridget, Maureen, Megan, Donna, Erin, Sean, Brenden, Aubrey, Katie, Bobby; and 7 great-grandchildren, Katerina, Evangelos, Kieran, Declan, Dylan, Lila, and Blake.
A graduate of Weston High School, Basil turned down a boxing scholarship to West Virginia University and went to work helping his mother run their drugstore. He joined the National Guard and then the Civilian Conservation Corps in London, KY. He then came to Franklin and worked for the American Snuff Company. Here Basil met and married the love of his life, Leslie Mae Byrd, a Franklin native.
Basil learned to fly airplanes shortly after his marriage. It was his life's career and Leslie's only rival. He became a flight instructor and, after training civilian pilots in the 30's, instructed Army cadets in Avon Park, FL after the strike on Pearl Harbor. Basil joined the Navy in 1942.
Considered too old at 27 to be trained as a fighter pilot, the Navy used his talents to ferry planes from coast to coast as needed for the war effort. He
flew every single engine plane the Navy had - torpedo and dive bombers, as well as fighter craft. He retired as Lt. Commander.
After the war Basil returned to Franklin and ran a lumber mill and turkey farm. He built the Keller Airport in Franklin in 1946, and operated it until it's closing in 1955. Basil flew for American Mercury and A VEMCO aviation insurance companies, then worked for Bendix Corporation under contract to NASA, flying out of Baltimore. He moved his family to Roanoke, VA in 1969 to take ajob as executive pilot for American Motor Inns, which operated 45 Holiday Inns. He was forced to give up flying in 1981at the age of 67 when a heart condition kept him from being able to pass a flight physical.
Basil and Leslie returned to Franklin where they lived in their home on North Main Street. Basil operated Keller Apartments in Franklin for over 20 years. A stroke 5 years ago forced him to leave Franklin so he could be cared for near his children.
Basil was a member of the American Legion and the Quiet Birdmen, an informal club for pilots with over 500 hours of flight experience. He founded the "QB" hangar in Roanoke, VA and served as Governor. Basil was a faithful member of Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. He had an easy laugh and a dry wit, and was known to enjoy a glass of Wild Turkey on occasion. He followed local and national events closely and stayed in
touch with current political events until the very end of his life. Basil loved his adopted home of Franklin, and was a well known presence here in his later years.
Family will receive friends on Friday, January 20, 2012, 6-8 PM at the Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin, WV. Rev. Mario Claro will officiate a Mass of Christian Burial at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Franklin on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Franklin, with Military Graveside Services conducted by the Pendleton County Veterans Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church or Pendleton County Volunteer Rescue Squad. Memories and words of comfort may be left at www.basagic.com.
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