Robert Warren Keep

Robert Warren Keep, of Moneta, Virginia, stepped into the glories of heaven on Saturday, June 19, 2021. The focus of his 76 years was a faithful love for his family and service to his Lord. Robert (Bob) was born to James and Velma (Brown) Keep on June 29, 1944, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He was fourth in line after older brothers Harland, Orrin, and Richard. The boys were later joined by two sisters Geraldine and Marsha. When Bob was just over two years old, a gas furnace exploded in the home, taking the life of his father James. Bobs mother married Glen Gardner the following year, and he aided her in raising the children. Theirs was not a Christian home until Bob was in his late teens. In the mercy of God, a Sunday School teacher by the name of Uncle Frank would pick up Bob and his siblings each Sunday and take them to a Grand Rapids Free Methodist Church. There, some profoundly influential godly pastors and teachers taught and mentored them in the things of God, and at the age of 16 Bob was saved. Bob attended school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduating from Creston High School in 1962. During and following his years in high school, he was involved with some ROTC training, but along the way, a call to preach led him to pursue Bible college. With applications sent to two schools, he told the Lord he would attend the first one to accept him. The letter from Gods Bible School in Cincinnati, Ohio, arrived first. Bob went to GBS in the fall of 1964, met the beautiful Grace Hickman in the fall of 1966, and after a whirlwind romance, married her on March 25, 1967. March 2021 marked fifty-four precious years of love, sacrifice, laughter, and life together. Bob studied at Gods Bible College and later at Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist College in Salem, Ohio. He was an ordained elder in the Heartland Conference of the Bible Methodist connection of Churches. In 1968, Charlotte Janel was born followed in 1969 by brother Timothy Robert. In 1970, the Keeps returned to Cincinnati where Bob faithfully supported his growing family by working in the ER at Christ Hospital. David Lanham Keep was born in 1971, and two weeks later, Bob took his first associate pastorate in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Bob worked there under Rev. Matthew Hardin for a while before ministering for a year in Melvindale, Michigan, under Rev. Joe Christian. Bobs first full-time pastorate was in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where he labored for four years, building a beautiful little church building and teaching history at the West Virginia Training School. In Salem, Ohio, Bob took some classes at Allegheny Wesleyan College while Grace received her practical nurses training. That was followed by two years in Carrollton, Ohio, where Bob once again built the church and parsonage. Bobs next ministry role was a pioneer work in Tacoma, Washington. The family enjoyed many wonderful new experiences there, including climbing and tubing on Mt. Rainier and fishing in Puget Sound. Bob made many friends along the way, and his time in Greenville, Pennsylvania, was no exception. The Keeps pastored the Allegheny church in Greenville for ten years, interacting with many wonderful families and overseeing some remodeling projects. Bob also enjoyed his role as deputized security officer for Stoneboro Camp. The three Keep children all attended Union Bible College and Academy where they met and married their mates, who all happened to have the same last name Keaton. Thus began a deep and long-lasting friendship between Bob and Grace Keep and James and Sue Keaton. In 1991, James Keaton asked Bob to join the UBC team as Dean of Student Affairs. Bob had a great impact on many of the young ministerial students during his six years in that role. The summers of 1991 and 1992 took Bob to Honduras and Ukraine with Touching Lives for Christ. Bob later worked as director of Development for Evangelical Bible Mission. In order to enable his wife to care for their aging parents, Bob spent the last nine working years as an over-the-road truck driver. Retirement found Bob and Grace living near their son, Tim, and his family in Ohio. A move to Moneta, Virginia, in 2018 enabled Bob and Grace to be near Janels family while living in a beautiful apartment in Dave and Julias home. Bob enjoyed the chickens, pigs, and deer on the property and was rarely far from his faithful boxer companion, Jake. Bob thoroughly enjoyed hunting, camping, boating, and fishing and excelled at every job he took on. He had a positive impact on the people he met, but most importantly, he dearly loved his children and grandchildren and spent quality time with them often. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Grace; his brother, Richard (Diana) Keep of Sevierville, Tennessee; daughter, Janel (Troy) Keaton of Moneta, Virginia; son, Timothy (Becky) Keep of Cincinnati, Ohio; son, Dave (Julia) Keep of Moneta, Virginia; sixteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many wonderful friends. A viewing will be held on Thursday, June 24, 2021, from 9 to 11 a.m. at EastLake Community Church, 1201 Timberwood Lane, Moneta, Virginia. The viewing will be followed by a service at 11 a.m. to celebrate Bobs life with the Rev. Travis Johnson officiating. Arrangements are being handled by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, Virginia. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com. Service Details. Visitation When Thursday, June 24th, 2021 9:00am - 11:00am Location Eastlake Community Church Address 1201 Timberwood Lane Moneta, Virginia 24121 Funeral Service When Thursday, June 24th, 2021 11:00am Location Eastlake Community Church Address 1201 Timberwood Lane Moneta, Virginia 24121 Interment When Thursday, June 24th, 2021 Location Promise Land Project Address Address Not Available