By: Mark Holtsberry
William Vilas Keckley was born April 28, 1894 in Jackson Township Paulding County, the son of William Sherman, born December 15, 1858 in Union County Ohio and Alice (Bowdre) Keckley, born April 15, 1861 in Ohio. William and Alice were married March 15, 1885 in Union County, Ohio.
In 1888, a daughter, Ruby Gael was born, followed by William V. in 1894, then on March 10, 1900, a son Carroll Paul. By 1900 the Keckley family were living in Payne, Ohio. William was a bookkeeper.
By 1910, the family was living on Merrin Street in Payne. William senior, was working for the Coal Real Estate Company as a clerk. William and Carroll were in school at Payne, and Ruby was a school teacher, I wonder if she had her brothers in the classroom.
On May 10, 1912, Alice Keckley passed away, she was buried in Wiltsie Cemetery. On July 21, 1915, William Vilas signed up to join the navy at the Naval Recruiting Station in Indianapolis, Indiana. On December 12, 1916, William married a gal named Alice Brogan, born August 19, 1898 in Manhattan, New York.
Alice and William were married in Manhattan, New York. On May 2, 1917, while living in New York, Alice and William, were blessed with the birth of a daughter, Alice Virginia Keckley. William served on the U.S.S. Neptune April 6, 1917 to June 28, 1918. William was on the first vessel that sailed to France when war broke out. He was there in France, when the first transport arrived in that country.
William received a transfer to join a receiving ship in Norfolk, Virginia to serve as an Armed Guard Detail. He served at this post until July 19, 1918. On September 12, 1918, William’s brother, Carroll, registered for the draft, he was not chosen.
On January 18, 1919, William Sherman Keckley, passed away, he was buried with his wife, Alice, at Wiltsie Cemetery.
William Vilas Keckley, served as a Chief Electrician on the U.S.S. Kalk in Boston, Massachusetts. He was honorably discharged April 19, 1919. By 1920, William was stationed in Philadelphia, serving with the Navy, but Alice and daughter, were living at 127th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues in Manhattan, New York.
By 1930, William and Alice and little Alice, were living at Fort Sherman, Cristobal District, Panama Canal Zone. On March 29, 1935, at San Pedro, California, William enlisted back into the Navy. He became a Chief Radioman. In 1936, daughter Alice, married a fella named Clyde Raymond Wells. They lived in Los Angeles, California. William and his wife Alice, lived at 4214 East 8th Street, Long Beach, California. By 1940, William and Alice, were living in Los Angeles at 11763 Nebraska Avenue. William was working as an electrician.
On October 31, 1941, William was called back to active duty. On January 12, 1950, he passed away in Los Angeles, California. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Santa Monica, California. His wife Alice, passed away June 14, 1992 in Los Angeles, California and was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery, North Hollywood, California. Daughter Alice passed away June 14, 1975, and is buried with her mother.
