Ronald R. Keeling died Jan. 11 in Olympia, Wash. He was 38.

A memorial was held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at the Ft. Lewis Main Post Chapel. Viewing was held at Woodlawn Funeral Home on Jan. 16, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m., where full military honors will be rendered.

Ron was born in Southern California and graduated from Nevada Union High School. He married his wife, Jenifer, on March 15, 1992, in Adak, Alaska. Upon graduation from high school, he entered the Navy and fought in Operation Desert Storm. After serving in the Navy, he enlisted in the Army. Ron is a decorated Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and returned home from his second tour to Iraq in May of 2007. Ron was currently serving as the First Sergeant for Bravo Battery, 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, stationed at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Ron is survived by his wife, Jenifer; his two sons, Al’eck and Chandler Keeling of Olympia, Wash.; his parents, Ronald and Claudia Keeling of Grass Valley; Robyn Keeling of Canyon Lake; grandparents Gladys and Romaine Rammell of Arcadia; father and mother-in-law, Don and Joyce DeWolf of Olympia, Wash.; three sisters, Teresa Pike, Shannon Robinson, and Kim Burkholder; nephews, nieces, cousins, and the soldiers and families of the 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

Many of us knew Ron and his sisters at school, and he was such a happy and fun person. Please think of Ron today and if you would like to sign the family’s online guestbook with your condolences, please visit www.woodlawn-forest.com.