Franklin Miller Keyes

St. George, UT - Franklin Miller Keyes, 87, took flight May 22, 2012, slipping away from family and friends like the whisper jet he was. He was born June 8, 1924, in Newark Ohio, son of Royal Keyes Sr., (former Licking County Treasures) and Jennie Miller Keyes.
Franklin was raised in Newark and graduated first in his class from Newark High School. He honorably served in the pacific theatre during WWII and graduated cum laude from Ohio State University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, one of the first in that discipline.
The life-long love of airplanes led him to employment with Bell Aircraft and then Mcdonnell Aircraft for over 30 years. As department head of the gas dynamics and jet propulsion laboratory's he oversaw design and testing of many new aircraft of the 50's and 60's. His most notable accomplishment was work on the Mercury and Gemini capsules in America's race to space.
A miraculous conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1966, redirected his focus. As an avid and record setting fisherman, he simply and humbly stated, "I've become a fisher of men". Many leadership positions and extensive family history work bore that out. The most memorable event in his life was the afternoon he boarded a bus in Columbus, Ohio and first saw his eternal companion to be, it was love at first sight. He is survived by: his wife Patricia Stewart Keyes; son Kevin (Bev) Keyes; 8 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 25, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at the St. George East Stake Center, 449 S. 300 E., St. George, UT. A visitation will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. prior to the service. Interment with military honors will follow at the Tonaquint Cemetery.
Friends and family are invited to share condolences online at www.sereincare.com. Arrangements are under the direction of SereniCare Funeral Home, St. George, UT 435-986-2085.