Ken Keller

Ken Keller returned to his Creator on October 20, 2024, grateful for his 85 years on this earth. He was predeceased by his father, Theodore G. Keller (1896-1990) and his mother, Edna Louise Christen (1903-1997). He is survived by his beloved wife of 64years, Mary, their daughter Kathryn Keller (Jorge Parada), their son David (Teresa), seven spectacular grandchildren and their spouses and nine great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Ted, and many loving nephews, nieces and “second family.”

Born in Toledo, Ken came to Ohio State in 1957 and never left the city he came to love and went on to serve in so many ways. He began his career as a local broadcaster (1959-65) working in turn for WMNI, WTVN, WBNS-TV, WRFD, WBNS and WOSU. In retirement, Ken wrote a book about his years in local radio, Monkey on a Turntable, published in 2007.

In 1965, Ken left broadcasting to enter advertising. Over a span of more than 35 years, Ken was, in turn, an agency copywriter, creative director, account executive, vice president, president and owner. In 1972, Ken helped found TriAd Advertising, today renamed TriAd Marketing and Media and located in Westerville, becoming its sole owner and president in 1986. Ken retired from TriAd at the end of 2001, turning the company over to his and Mary’s son, Dave, who today owns and directs the company in its 53th year. Dave’s wife, Teresa, and son, Ryan, are active and integral partners in the business.

Throughout his career, Ken most valued his role as copywriter. In addition to countless TV and radio commercials, scripts for industrial videos, and lyrics for advertising jingles, Ken wrote an unpublished novel, a short story, a half-hour radio drama broadcast live on two radio stations, short stories, and a drawerful of poetry.

Ken and Mary loved to travel and have been from Tierra del Fuego on the southernmost tip of South America to Barrow Alaska, the northernmost city in North America. They have visited all 50 states, photographing all 50 capitols. They traveled to thirteen foreign countries, and they piloted their boat across a Great Lake and through sixteen locks down the Ohio, Cumberland and Kentucky rivers.

In retirement, Ken renewed his love of the baritone ukulele and played with the Kiwanis Club of Columbus Mighty Ukulele Orchestra. Switching to banjo, he played with the Worthington Squares, a subgroup of the Columbus Folk Music Society.

Ken and Mary are charter members of All Saints Lutheran Church in Worthington where Ken served two terms as vice president of Church Council. He is a Life Member and past president of Kiwanis Club of Columbus; a past president and chairman of the board of Friends of WOSU; and a past president and life member of Columbus Society of Communicating Arts. For twenty-five years, Ken served as pronouncer for the regional Scripps-Howard Spelling Bee sponsored first by the Columbus Citizen-Journal and later by the Columbus Dispatch. He was a Big Brother to two special young men and served on several community boards, including Franklin County Board of Mental Health and Retardation; Central Ohio Marketing Council; Rosemont Center, Inc.; Columbus Children’s Choir and the advisory committee of Senior Independence of Central Ohio.

Visitation will be at 10am on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at All Saints Lutheran Church, 6770 North High Street, Worthington, Ohio 43085 followed by a Memorial and a Celebration of Life service at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Salvation Army.