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Keller, Paul - Proprietor of Stewart's Root Beer Drive-In Restaurant
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Paul Deeds Keller, age 86
Sunday, June 3, 2001 at Oak Crest Village, Baltimore, Md., formerly of Whitehall.
Beloved husband of the late Idola Keller (nee Ansley) for 54 years.
Born January 24, 1915 to Tracy Gibson Keller and Grace Deeds Keller in Ostrander, Oh. Graduate of Pleasant High School, 1933. Enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1940, he rose through the ranks to Captain by the war's end. He served with the 9th Infantry division fighting in Africa, Sicily and Europe (Normandy, Cotentin Peninsula, Northern France, Battle of the Bulge and the Remagen Bridgehead) being awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Eight Campaign Stars and 2 Invasion Arrowheads. After WW II, he served in the US Army Reserves retiring as Lt. Colonel.
He worked for Hobart Equipment in Columbus and spent his career in sales for Economics Laboratory Inc. in Columbus and Detroit.
With his wife Idola, he owned and operated Stewarts Root Beer Drive-In of Whitehall, Oh. from 1959-1975. Retired from Stout Sales in 1994. He served as national president of The Ninth Infantry Division Association, officer of Whitehall Lions Club, past treasurer of the Ohio State Restaurant Association, treasurer and deacon of East Columbus Christian Church, served as Whitehall City Councilman, member of Reserve Officers Association and Whitehall Democratic Club, Color Guard of VFW Post 8794, active in Boy Scouts and many Whitehall civic groups.
Devoted father of Robert S. Keller of Atlanta, Ga., Ronald T. Keller (Kathryn Tefft) of Columbus, Nancy K. Fitton (Lawrence R.) of Phoenix, Md.; foster son, Dagoberto Vallejo of Columbus; brother of Kathleen Schweinfurth of LaRue, Oh., Gibson Keller, Clarence and Marilyn Keller, all of Sycamore, Oh. and the late Virginia Everhart; brother-in-law, Ray Everhart of Upper Sandusky, Oh. and Naomi Linstedt of Mt. Gilead, Oh.; loving grandfather of Lauren, Alejandra and Gabriel Fitton, Joseph and Emily Keller.
The funeral service was held at EVANS FUNERAL HOME, 4171 E. Livingston Ave.on Saturday , June 11, 2001, with Rev. Conard Wolf officiating. Interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. Memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, 340 E. Fulton St., Columbus, Oh. 43215.
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I was deeply saddened to learn that Mr. Paul Keller, the owner of Stewart's Root Beer Drive-In Restaurant on Yearling Road, died on Sunday, June 3, 2001.
Paul Keller and Stewart's Root Beer Drive In Restaurant were an integral part of growing up in Whitehall during the 60's and 70's. Not only did Mr. Keller provide a place where we all felt welcome, but he always treated us with respect and affection.
Whether you were celebrating after a game, catching dinner on the way to the drive-in, stopping by as part of a date, or just hanging out, Stewart's was the place to be.
Paul Keller made an important, positive impact on many of our lives, and he will be missed. - Rob Fish, Class of 1971
Sad news that brings back many good memories - Judy (Allen) King, Class of 1972
Everyone in Whitehall called Stewart's the root beer stand, except for Mr. Keller. He called it a drive-in restaurant, and those of us who worked there knew that, emphatically. We weren't well paid, but we were well treated. He was loyal to good workers, and we respected him. - Mike Kilkenny, WYHS Class of 1971
I loved Stewarts and the family.
As you said they always treated us with respect. Many miles were put on
my feet walking to that place. - Terri Karr, WYHS Class of 1971
When I went shopping for my wedding attendants dresses we got a pizza at
Massey's and went to the root beer stand and got a large container of root
beer. Seems kind of tame compared to today but we had a good time. - Sharon (Salyer) Kay, Class of 1969
So sorry to hear about Mr. Keller. Stewart's was the place to go for
great food and oh the Root Beer! My Grandma who lived in Pennsylvania
couldn't wait to get out here on a visit to get some of that Root Beer. - Colleen Taylor, Class of 1971
Stewart's Root Beer was a special place to meet friends. It was also a place that my dad would take my mom, brother, and me for a coney dog, fries, and a cold, frosty root beer on summer Saturday evenings. I remember those trips very well. And I fondly remember Paul Keller. I am saddened to learn of his passing. - Duane Bailey, Class of 1972
I cannot tell you how saddened I was when I heard of the death of Idola Keller. She was not that much older than me but she certainly was one of my "heroes". It seemed Idola and Paul Keller were capable of spanning this life as Christians and as public servants, a feat which most people would find impossible. - Roberta LaCorte, Whitehall Historical Society
When my mother died in 1972 during mid-terms, his kindest gesture I remember was a small one, but since we were literally bankrupted by the illness and death, he fed us lunch for a week after my mother died. Like I said a small thing, but small things lead to great people. Mr. Keller was one of those great people. - Michael Sunday, WYHS Class of 1973
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