Paul F. Keefe

Lt. Col. Paul F. Keefe USA RET Centerville, GA: Paul Francis Keefe passed away October 27th, 2011 at his home in Centerville, GA. Paul was born March 20th, 1938, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, class of 1959, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Naval Science, and in 1970 earned a Master of Science degree in Systems Analysis from the University of Rochester. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army and was assigned to Fort Benning , Georgia, where he completed the Basic Infantry Officers Course and attended the Airborne and Ranger Schools. He later served as an Instructor of the Ranger Course at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where he met his wife, the late Laura Fay Keefe. Upon completion of Ranger training, Paul was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, with subsequent tours in Fort Bragg, Okinawa, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Hood, and the Pentagon. His performance was recognized with the Meritorious Service Medal and three Army Commendation Medals during this period. Additionally, he served three combat tours in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, three Bronze Star Medals for Meritorious Combat Service, the Air Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, and was a three ?time recipient of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Paul retired from military service a Lieutenant Colonel in 1979, and returned with his family to Fort Walton Beach, where he served as a Branch Chief and Senior Systems Analyst for the Oklahoma State University Field Office at Eglin Air Force Base. The family attended St. Mary?s Catholic Church where Paul served as a Eucharistic Minister and Paul was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Paul and Laura moved to Centerville in 2005 and attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where Paul continued to serve as a Eucharistic Minister. Paul is survived by his two children, Michael and Cathy; a sister, Ann Ferguson, of Fort Walton Beach; a brother, Leo Keefe, of Tampa; and extended family. Visitation and recitation of the Rosary will take place at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Centerville on Friday, November 4th, 2011 at 7:00 PM and a funeral mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warner Robins at 10:30 AM on Saturday, November 5th, 2011. Burial will be at Barrancas National Cemetery on board Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida at 1:15 CTZ on November 7th, 2011. The Family requests that expressions of sympathy be sent to Serenity Hospice, 1057 Houston Road, Warner Robins, GA 31093. Heritage Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.