Robert Charles Keller Jr. passed away on Friday, August 22nd near his home in Arlington,
Virginia. Depending on when you had the pleasure of knowing him, you may have called him
“Robert”, “Bob”, or “Papa K”, but his family most often referred to him as “Dad” or “Rick.” Born
on Scott Airforce Base in Belleville, Illinois, on June 16th, 1949, Rick spent his childhood moving
from base to base with his mother and sister as they followed his father’s Air Force placements.
In particular, his time living in England had a deep impact on his life–seen not just in the close
relationships that he formed with neighbors, but in his love of strange candies (like aniseed
balls) and his romanticization of the American West, all of which stemmed from his formative
years in the UK.
Rick’s family eventually settled in Arlington, Virginia where he excelled in athletics at
Washington-Liberty High School, graduating in 1967. Arlington became Rick’s permanent home,
save for his 4 shennanigan-filled years at Penn State University, where he majored in Political
Science and ill-advised pranks. His time at Penn State is most notable, however, for the
friendships he built there. “Bob” and his friends from the Cottonwood Dormitory have met in
State College for an annual reunion and golf tournament for over 50 years. Rick’s dependability
and commitment to the people close to him, as well as his ability to bring humor and levity to
any gathering, is a constant theme throughout his life.
Rick met his wife, Kate, while working at the ever-romantic Bureau of Labor Statistics. They
married in April of 1986, celebrating their union with a cross country road trip. During the 43
years of their relationship, traveling together and collecting beautiful art and memories (and an
impressive array of refrigerator magnets), was a favorite pastime for them both. They instilled
their love of travel into their two daughters, Megan and Leslie. The 1990s are full of memories of
trips to England, long cross country drives, and many nights spent camping. Rick took special
care and effort to plan these family vacations, documenting every moment with his trusty
camera and, after something inevitably went wrong, always finding the humor in the situation
during the numerous retellings.
After 30+ years working in the US Government, Rick began his well-earned retirement in 2004.
This period is marked by two significant additions to his life. The first was his extensive
volunteer work with environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Eco Action Arlington, with
whom he held a variety of leadership positions over the years. The second was his newfound
love of Pickleball, which he played at the local community center well before Pickleball became
a staple of mainstream culture. Rick competed in the Community Center’s Senior Olympics for
several years, even being featured on the local news for his participation. Despite the
accolades, once again the most significant part of this period were the friendships that he
formed along the way. Among the other Pickleball enthusiasts, Rick found not just stellar
athletes, but a community of folks who appreciated his wit and made him laugh.
In the last years of his life, Rick’s family grew to include two sons-in-law and a large extended
family, whom he loved. It also grew to include his daughters’ pets, who he claimed to be unsure
about, but to whom he was also often caught giving treats. In July of 2025, the family spent a
wonderful weekend together at a house in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, the town where Rick’s

parents, “Bob” and “Hibby” met and fell in love. This time together was cherished just a month
and a half later, as Rick passed peacefully, surrounded by his family.
There is so much to say about Rick. He loved History, especially Scottish and Early American,
through which he studied his family’s genealogy. He rooted for Manchester United and the New
York Yankees. He collected Buffalo figurines, sculptures, and art because it reminded him of
how he pictured the American West as a child. He had a very specific, mischievous way he
would smile after he told a joke and was waiting for people to get it. There are countless stories
and quirks to this man, and yet the way he will be remembered most- by his friends, by his
children, by his wife- is the way he made you feel when you were with him: welcomed, loved,
and probably laughing.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Rick and Kate’s home in Arlington, VA on Saturday,
September 13th, 2025 from 1:00-5:00pm. Please feel free to come by at your leisure to honor
Rick’s life. Email RCK.Celebration@gmail.com for the address, parking information, or to share
any photos or stories about our beloved Rick.
Lastly, the family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the ICU staff at Virginia Health
Center who helped Rick during his stay. Through the many shift changes and ups and downs of
his prognosis, the family and Rick were so appreciative of the care and attention he received.
Thank you.

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