The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, May 9, 1996                  TAG: 9605090328
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                         LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

JOHN W. KEFFER

John W. Keffer, 69, a former Chesapeake councilman, of the 600 block of Maxwell St., died Wednesday, May 8, 1996, at his residence.

Mr. Keffer was born in Newport News, and was the son of the late Samuel Leroy and Alice Ida Buckwalter Keffer. He was a member of Mt. Pleasant Mennonite Church. He was chairman of the building committee and a member of the finance committee of Mt. Pleasant Christian School. He was a graduate of Devry School of Electronics. He was a retired electrician with the Ford Motor Co. He was the founder and former principal owner of Crossroads Fuel Service, Inc., Waterway Estates, Inc., Crossroads Properties, Inc., Coast Properties, Inc., and Coast Plants, Inc. He served on the Chesapeake City Council for six years, retiring in 1984. He was a former member of the Chesapeake Democratic Committee. He was devoted to his beloved wife and children and they are proud of his generosity to those in need. He was the author of a book titled My Mother Was A Lady, which was published in 1991 in honor of his mother.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Dana Viola Hochstetler Keffer; five daughters, Dorothea Yvonne Besso, Marilyn Jeanette Baker, Deanna Jan Curling, Juanita Elaine Harris, and Allene Dawn Webb, all of Chesapeake; five sons, Alan Milo Keffer, Rev. Dale Martin Keffer, Gary Eugene Keffer, Herbert Lynn Keffer, and Eric Neal Keffer, all of Chesapeake; three sisters, Virginia Harsh of Kansas City, Mo., Anna Mae Hertzler of Newport News, and Betta Lee Lowry of Gloucester, Va.; three brothers, Samuel Leroy Keffer Jr. of Newport News, Marvin P. Keffer and Freddie Keffer, both of Chesapeake; 26 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Mennonite Church with the Rev. Dale Martin Keffer officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at Mt. Pleasant Mennonite Church, 2041 Mt. Pleasant Road, Chesapeake, Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. Oman Funeral Home, Great Bridge, is in charge of arrangements. The family suggests that memorials be made to the Building Fund of the Mt. Pleasant Christian School, 335 Suite G., Centerville Turnpike, South, Chesapeake, Va. 23322. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB