John Francis Keating

November 23, 1921 – July 27, 2014

John was born in Haxton, Colorado to Grace Work Keating and Francis Joseph Keating. He spent his formative years in Loveland, Colorado. He graduated from Woodbury College, Los Angeles, California in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy ten days later and was assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence. He was recommended for Officers Training and studied engineering at Colorado College in Colorado Springs and later reassigned to the University of Oklahoma NROTC. In May of 1945 he graduated with a degree in Naval Science and received his commission. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Curtis and served in the Pacific during World War II.

January 1, 1958 John founded Topographic Engineering Company in Duncan, Oklahoma. He used the emerging availability of aerial photography as the basis for offering additional land surveying services to the oil & gas industry. Under John’s leadership Topographic became a leader in the use of surveying and mapping technology. John never retired from Topographic and proudly enjoyed working there until June 6, 2014, the day he was admitted to the hospital with his medical problem.

John was named a Pathmaker in 1999 by the Oklahoma County Historical Society. John’s life was documented by Bob Burke and Kate Seney in the book, ”Beyond Metes & Bounds - The Life of John Keating”. The book was published by The Oklahoma Heritage Association and released in 2008.

John was an ordained Presbyterian Church Elder. He was a Member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was a long-time member of The Economic Club, the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, and OU Associates. In 2012, he enjoyed an Oklahoma Honor Flight for World War II veterans to Washington D.C.

He was a kind and generous man who loved his family. The following quote describes well his outlook on life, “I have been truly blessed with an outstanding family, good health, sound mind, and the opportunity to build a successful business. But my most prized possession is the love of my family.”

John loved dancing to big band music and was a regular at the Saturday dances at Ingrid’s.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Tom Wheeler, and siblings Joseph Keating, Paul Keating, and Margaret Hartman. He is survived by his wife Barbara of 52 years, daughter Janie Cole and husband Don, son Robert Keating and wife Sharon, son Jim Keating and wife Rosemary, son Bill Keating and wife Kelly, daughter Carolyn Jenkins and husband Dennis, and son Gordon Keating and wife Stacy. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers who provided loving care on John’s last days.

Memorials to Westminster Church or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, Oklahoma City, OK.