Obituary for George W. “Bill” Keeney Bill Keeney was born in Columbus, Ohio on September 23, 1952 and died on July 15, 2018, surrounded by family at Riverside Hospital, after a lengthy hospital stay. He grew up in the south end of Columbus and attended Southwood Elementary, Barrett Junior High and Columbus South High School. Bill was always a leader and served as president of his senior class; class of 1970.
Bill attended The Ohio State University, 1970-1974. He tutored high school athletes, couched high school football and work during his years at OSU. He tried out as a “walk-on” for the OSU baseball team and made the team.
He met his future wife, Kathleen Rose in the fall of 1976, while he was coaching football and she was teaching French at Columbus South High School. He told his mother that he had met a nice Irish girl, but later found out her background was Ukrainian, Czechoslovakian and Scotch-Irish. Bill may have been the first “house husband,” which was not popular from 1982-1987, until his son, Adam went to kindergarten and his daughter, Michelle was 4 years old.
He, nevertheless, stuck to his convictions, that parenting was his most important role. In 1987, he went back to OSU for 6 quarters to finish his B.S. degree in History and Social Sciences Education in 1989. He taught World History and coached at Independence High School in the Columbus City School District.
He was an assistant defensive back football coach, head soccer coach, and assistant, and later head baseball coach. In addition to coaching many students Bill also coached many basketball teams which Adam and Michelle played on. Unfortunately, Bill only coached and taught at Independence for 12 years.
Bill became critically ill in May of 2001, was in a coma for 3 weeks, hospitalized for 3. 5 months and had to go on disability-retirement, due to his many health issues. Bill was always very strong and had a positive outlook on life.
He loved his family and friends deeply. He enjoyed entertaining and having family and friends over for dinners and celebrations. Bill started “networking” everyone he knew, before it became part of everyone’s vocabulary.
Bill was a lifelong sports fan, and especially enjoyed watching OSU football and basketball games. He loved traveling in Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States. He was an avid thoroughbred horse racing fan and developed many strong friendships from Beulah Park, Scioto Downs, Saratoga and Gulfstream park.
Bill was a charismatic friend to all Bill is preceded in death by his grandparents, George and Della Ruth Keeney, William C. and Bertha Conroy; parents, Adam and Nelle Ruth Keeney; siblings, Ralph Keeney, Mary Francis Myers, Franklin D. Keeney, and Linda Genheimer; brother-in-law, Gary Keeling. Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Kathy Keeney; children, Adam (Alan) Keeney and Michelle (Josh) Nicely; granddaughters, Riley and Skylar Nicely; sister, Karen Keeney; mother-in-law, Shirley Oravec; sister-in-law, Karen Oravec; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A touching tribute to Bill and his family in lieu of flowers would be donations to help cover medical expenses.
Visitation will be held Thursday, July 19, from 5 to 8 pm at O. R. Woodyard Co. South Chapel 1346 S. High St. A memorial service will be held Friday, July 20, at 11 am at David Evangelical Lutheran Church, 300 Groveport Rd. Canal Winchester, OH. Pastor Leslie Fox officiating.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of George W. “Bill” Keeney please visit our Sympathy Store. Previous Events Visitation , JUL 19. 05:00 PM – 08:00 PM O. R. Woodyard South Chapel 1346 S. High St. Columbus, OH, US, 43207 Funeral Ceremony , JUL 20.
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