Arlene K. Keith, 89, of West Liberty died Thursday, May 13, 2021 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
Visitation was held the evening of Sunday, May 16, at the Wilton United Methodist Church, Wilton, and the evening of Monday, May 17, at the West Liberty United Methodist Church, West Liberty, where an OES service will be held following visitation.
Private family funeral service was held Tuesday, May 18, at the West Liberty United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made to Arlene Keith Memorial Fund.
The Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty is caring for Arlene’s family. The funeral service was live streamed to the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hendersonbarkerfuneralhome
Arlene was born Oct. 9, 1931, in rural Moscow, Iowa, the daughter of Alvin Newton and Edna Marie (Jensen) Roberts.
She was a graduate of Atalissa High School in the class of 1948 and later Muscatine Community College with an associate degree and certificate to teach elementary school.
For two years, she taught at Penn Avenue country school south of Atalissa. She later attended Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa) and, in 1954, graduated with a B.A. in Elementary Education.
On June 19, 1955, she was united in marriage to the love of her life Derwood Keith in Wilton. In the fall of 1954, she began teaching, working in Wilton, Durant and Bennett before retiring in 1979.
In January, 1980, she and Derwood moved to West Liberty to make their home. Arlene and Derwood owned and operated the Flower and Gift Shoppe in West Liberty from 1975 through 1989.
She was a member of the Wilton and West Liberty United Methodist Churches, OES serving as Past Matron of the Lotus Chapter, West Liberty, Past Grand Martha of the Grand Chapter of Iowa, and past Grand Representative to New Brunswick, Canada OES, Fortnightly Literary Club, where she was past president and past county co-chairwoman and past Grand Representative to New Brunswick, Canada OES as well as a proud member of Chapter AH, P.E.O. for 35 years
Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Derwood; a brother, Nevin (Janice) Roberts of Muscatine; and a sister in law, Tina Keith of West Liberty.
Nieces and nephews also surviving include: Marcia (Roberts) and Brad Berreth, Mary (Roberts) and Kevin Wood, Valerie (Keith) and Pat Congdon, Laurie (Keith) and Kurt Heckman, Brian Keith and Jack Keith.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brother-in-laws: Donald and Vernon, as well as a sister in law, Evelyn.