Obituaries

Kenneth W. "Bill" Keltner

Photo of Kenneth W. "Bill" Keltner
Kenneth W. "Bill" Keltner of Little Rock, a devoted husband, caring father, loyal friend and mentor to many, passed away Sunday, August 14, 2011. According to Bill, he was born at a relatively young age on December 27, 1936 in Springfield, Missouri, to his parents, Kenneth and Pauline Keltner. He spent most of his youth in Fort Smith, later attending the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville where he received a BS degree in Industrial Engineering. During his time at UA, he was president of the Arkansas Booster Club and a member of Sigma Nu and Theta Tau fraternities. Bill served as president of the U of A Academy of Industrial Engineers and on the Engineering Dean's Advisory Council. He would later be chosen for the UA Hall of Fame and was recently named an Outstanding Engineering Alumni. Bill spent his career with AT&T and Southwestern Bell, with time out to serve as a Field Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army. He retired from Southwestern Bell Arkansas as a General Manager. Throughout his career, he was universally respected by all who worked for him, admired for his integrity and the positive culture he created among the many employee departments he managed. Despite his physical limitations resulting from rheumatoid arthritis, Bill kept a smile on his face along with a positive attitude, serving as an inspiration to those around him. He had many interests including writing poetry and organizing kazoo bands. A longtime community volunteer, Bill served as Chairman of the Board of the Pulaski County United Way; Chairman of the Board of the American Cancer Society-Arkansas Chapter; President of the Arkansas Arthritis Foundation Board of Directors and later serving on the national board of directors; Chairman of the Administrative Board at Trinity United Methodist Church; Board Chairman of the Little Rock Metropolitan YMCA; board member for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra; board member of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce' board member of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce; board of directors for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas;, board member of the Boy Scouts of America-Quapaw Council; a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, and the West Little Rock Rotary Club. Bill was recently appointed by Governor Mike Beebe to serve on the Governor's Commission on People with Disabilities, and was later selected by the Governor's Council on Volunteerism as one of the state's outstanding community leaders. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Patricia Cross Keltner; daughter Ann Slack (husband Clay and children, Trey and Robert); son Bob Keltner (wife Amy and children, Peter and Hannah); and daughter Julie Hughes (husband Mike and children Isabella and Jackson). Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, August 18 at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.). The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Trinity United Methodist Church, followed by a reception in their Fellowship Hall. The family asks that memorial gifts be made to: University of Arkansas-Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineers; the University of Arkansas Bill and Pat Keltner Scholarship Fund, or to Trinity United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. The online guestbook may be found at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.

Published August 17, 2011

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