The Excelsior Standard, Dec. 15, 2023

Dr Roy Keller

Dr. Roy Fred Keller, 96, of Wexford Place, professor emeritus of computer science and engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), died Dec. 5, 2023. Roy was born April 3, 1927, in Cape Girardeau County at home on the Oakwood Stock Farm to Fred A. Keller and Rosa Anna (Grossheider) Keller, the sixth son in a family of eight children – seven brothers and one sister. The one sister and one brother died before his birth, so he grew up in a family of six boys.

Roy married Eldora Erma Simpher, his high school sweetheart, on Aug. 14, 1949.

He graduated in 1950 from Southeast State Missouri University and started his high school teaching career, only to have it interrupted by the Korean War. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Because of his college education, he received a direct commission. He attended electronics school in Biloxi, Miss., and was sent to Mount Clemens, Mich., as the head of an aircraft and warning squadron.

He left active duty in 1954 and continued in the Air Force Reserve. In 1964, he was honorably discharged from the Air Force. After that, he served as a civilian consultant to the Air Force for the next nine years at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Eglin was the home of the USAF Mathematical Services Laboratory, where new weapons were tested. They made good use of Roy’s math and computer science and electronics knowledge during his years there.

During his time in electronics school in Mississippi, he developed a strong interest in computing and electronics and continued that career path. He obtained his master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, where he set up their first computer center as a graduate student and was named full director upon graduation in 1961.

In 1967, he moved to Iowa State University as a professor of math and computer science. In 1981, he moved to UNL as professor and chairman of the computer science and engineering department and retired in 1991, moving back to Columbia.

Roy was always active in sports. In retirement, he excelled in golf (he had a 7 handicap), hunting, slow-pitch softball and winemaking. He and Eldora enjoyed couples bridge, bowling, golf, dancing, gardening and yardwork.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Rose Keller; brothers, Irvin, Howard, Dewey, Quinton, Layton and Art; sister, Dorothy; and son, Clifford.

He is survived by his wife, Eldora; daughter, Jana (Steve) Schwarz; and six grandchildren, three stepgrandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1715 S. Jefferson St., Kearney.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, the Alzheimer’s Association or the charitable organization of your choice.

Arrangements are in care of Bross & Spidle Funeral Home in Excelsior Springs.