Walter Thompson Keith Jr.

Walter Thompson Keith Jr., Born March 22, 1920, Walter passed away February 19, 2012, just short of his 92nd birthday, after a life filled with hard work and vast accomplishments. Walter married Maxine Casmay Walton in 1939 and they had 2 sons, David Walton Keith Sr. and John Walter Keith. Walter and Maxine divorced after 5 years and Walter later married Josephine Trazek to whom he remained married for over 50 years. Together Walter and Jo started Keith Distributing Company and built it from a garage-based business into a successful company serving clients across Houston. Walter had been stricken at an early age with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a blinding disease that rendered him completely without sight by his early 20’s. Walter and Jo worked in their business side by side for many decades until they sold it to their Nephew, Richard Faubion, in 1986 at which time they retired and built their dream home on Lake Livingston. During the time Walter and Jo were at the helm of KDC, Walter continued to make his own sales calls, with a driver and one of his many faithful seeing eye dogs at his side. He also employed his dedicated and hard-working son, David Keith Sr., who helped deliver the company’s cleaning products and supplies to customers and contributed to the growth of the business until he left Keith Distributing Company to become a special education teacher. Walter was active in his community and in the Republican Party to which he pledged his support for decades. He won numerous awards including The Service to Mankind Award and was lauded for perfect attendance during his 50 years as a member of The Harrisburg Rotary Club. Walter campaigned for Representative for the Texas State Legislature only to lose by a narrow margin in a runoff election; he received a lifetime membership to The Republican House Majority of the U.S. Congress for extraordinary commitment. Years after their retirement and after moving to Friendswood, Texas, Josephine suffered an aneurism and Walter spent the next few years caring for her by himself at their home, with help of family, friends and neighbors. Josephine passed away in 2001 and Walter lived alone until he met and married Yoneko Asano of Japan. After a life-changing event when he fell and broke his hip, Walter endured hip replacement surgery and the many complications that followed. In 2006 he was moved to Plano, Texas to be nearer his grandson, David Walton Keith Jr., who, along with Walter’s devoted wife, Yoneko, cared for Walter and managed his caregivers for the next 6 years. Yoneko predeceased Walter in 2010 and he missed her company very much.

Walter is survived by his half-brother Donald M. Keith, his two sons, David Walton Keith Sr. and John Walter Keith, David’s wife Sylvia G. Keith, his grandchildren: David Walton Keith Jr., Mary Jo Lafaye, Amanda Keith, Candace A.R. Keith, Kimberly John Feliciano, Dana Keith McGrath, Johnny Candace Keith, his nephews Roy Faubion and Richard Faubion, and his great grandchildren: Alexandra, Cameron & Dylan Keith, Soleia Lafaye, Lennon Lott, Corbin, Coman, Anwar & Arielle Keith and Zachery, Cody, & Bryce McGrath, as well as many great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Mary Keith and Walter T Keith Sr., his half-sister, Catherine Keith, and his sister, Margaret Faubion.

Walter was known for his steadfast work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit, his self-discipline and his razor-sharp memory, which he relied on heavily due to his blindness. He will be remembered by his family as a guiding light, a source for no nonsense advice and an inspiration to those who seek the courage to overcome adversity in pursuit of success. Walter Thompson Keith, Jr., known by his many grandchildren and great grandchildren as Pappaw, will be missed dearly.

Walter’s funeral will be held in Houston at Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home on Friday March 9th, at 11:00 a.m. If you choose, you may send flowers or make a donation in Walter’s honor to: Foundation Fighting Blindness c/o Richard Faubion, 1663 Steele Street, Denver, Colorado 80206.