Walter Milburn Keenan Jr.

Walter Milburn Keenan Jr. PE son of Walter Milburn and Edith Cavanagh Keenan, both of Brooklyn, New York, was born in New York City on November 20, 1924 and died in Seattle, Washington on April 5, 2017.

Walter attended the Bronx High School of Science and Manhattan Prep both in NYC. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Cornell University (Class of 1945) where he also served as an instructor.

He served in the Navy, initially as a V-12 enlisted student and later as a lieutenant jg commissioned officer. He served on the PC1138 sub chaser.

After military service and graduate schooling he worked for Ebasco Services as an electrical design/construction engineer. He spent several years in Peru, SA on a hydroelectric project. He joined the Boeing Company in May 1959 and retired in July 1990 serving in the interim as a systems configuration engineer and later as an engineering manager on such diverse programs as Bomarc, Minuteman, Lunar Orbiter, C-5A proposal, IUS and AWACS. In June of 1966, he married wife Sally and often said she was the best thing that ever happened to him. They had no children.

Earlier in his life he was a member of the Cornell Chapter of Sigma Xi, the Educational Committee of the NYC chapter of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, a board member of the NYC State Professional Engineering Society, past president of Catholic Children’s Services of Seattle (forerunner of the Catholic Community Services) and past president of the College Club of Seattle. He was a long time member of St. Therese Church, serving for many years on its financial committee. He used to play golf and squash and upon retiring took up fly-fishing, cruising, honing his Spanish speaking skills and learning to use a computer.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to St. Therese Church addressed: 3416 E. Marion Street, Seattle, Washington 98122, the Cornell Fund addressed: P.O. Box 2600 Ithaca NY 14851-9968), or to your charity of choice.

Arrangements entrusted to Bleitz Funeral Home of Seattle, Washington.