Marie Garber Keller was born on October 4, 1927 in Winchester, Virginia. She was baptized as an infant at Braddock Street Methodist Church South. She attended John Kerr Elementary School and graduated from John Handley High School in 1945. She graduated from Madison College in 1949 and earned her Master’s Degree in Education from George Washington University while she taught school in Alexandria, Virginia. She married James R. Keller in November, 1956. They lived in Columbus, Ohio for four years and moved back to Winchester in 1961.
Mrs. Keller was a guidance counselor from 1970-1989 at Winchester Intermediate School and then at Daniel Morgan Middle School, as Director of Guidance. She served on the Winchester City Council from 1990-1994. Her club activities included Virginia Federated Garden Club; Lord Fairfax Garden Club; PEO; Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society for women educators; American Association of University Women; and Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Commission. She was a lifelong member of Braddock Street United Methodist Church where she served as past-president of the Jubilee Class and on the Virginia State Methodist Commission for the Status and Role of Women.
Mrs. Keller was devoted to her family. Preceding her in death was her husband, James R. Keller; her parents, Pearl Sheetz Garber and Homer B. Garber; two brothers, Howard Garber and Glen Garber; and two sisters, Cathryn Alger and Gladys Peck. She is survived by her three daughters and their husbands; Elizabeth and Wilson Whitehurst, Ellen and Scott Kinser and Susan and Matthew Pascocello; seven grandchildren; William Scott Kinser, Jr., Julia Kinser, Joy Whitehurst, Katie Kinser, Emily Kinser, Claire Pascocello and Alexander M. Pascocello; a great-granddaughter, Hayden Kinser; and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the loving community of The Village at Orchard Ridge, including her friends, the staff, clergy and caregivers.
The family will receive friends on Thursday evening October 29, 2015 from 6-8 pm at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel. A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 30, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Braddock Street United Methodist Church with the Reverend Kirk Nave officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Hebron Cemetery.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Braddock Street United Methodist Church – Jonah’s Clubhouse, 115 Wolfe Street, Winchester, Virginia 22601.