Keith L. “Dese” Kephart, 77 of Sandy Ridge died Thursday at the Tyrone Hospital.
Born Dec. 22, 1934 in (Sanborn) Houtzdale, he was the son of the late Dorsey and Mae (Haines) Kephart. He was married to Margaret E. (Howe) Kephart on Oct. 4, 1958 in Houtzdale and who preceded him in death Nov. 2, 2005.
Mr. Kephart was of the Christian faith. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of V.F.W. Post 5020 in Osceola Mills and the American Legion. In 1989, he retired from the former Rushton Coal Company.
In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Kephart was preceded in death by two infant sons, Michael and Kevin Kephart; two sisters, Bethel Wilkes and Dorothy Gomez; and three brothers, Kerby Kephart, Gary Kephart and Ira K. Kephart.
He is survived by two daughters, Peggy Jo Miller of Brisbin and Pamela Jean Croft and her husband, David of Marietta; four sons, Keith “Mack” Kephart of Maytown; Mark Anthony Kephart and his wife, Linda of Mount Joy; Barry Lynn Kephart and his wife, Barbara of Sandy Ridge; and Brian S. “Goupy” Kephart and his wife, Sherry of Osceola Mills; 13 grandchildren, Mike Sprankle, Heather Croft, Jeff Croft, Mindy Dejesus, Danielle Kephart, Candy Gruber, Mark Kephart Jr., Justine Kephart, Tara Kephart, Barry Kephart Jr., Mary Scalzo, Nicole Kephart and Brian Kephart Jr.; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are four sisters, Marion Gibson and her husband, Charles of Las Vegas, NV; Donna Jones and her husband, Clair and Josephine Wardo and her husband, George, all of Homer City; and Gloria Lutz and her husband, Allen of Brisbin; and a brother, Kenneth Kephart and his wife, Pat of Bryan, TX.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Heath Funeral Home in Osceola Mills, with Pastor Donald Smith officiating. Burial will be at the Sanborn Cemetery in Sanborn – Rural Houtzdale. Military honors will be accorded by the Osceola Mills Honor Guard.
Friends will be received from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday and from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral Monday at the funeral home.