Kellers Establish Legacy for Mineral County 4-H
Doris Jean Keller started her 4-H experience as a 10-year-old growing up in Burlington, W.Va., but her dedication to the program as a member, leader, volunteer, and supporter has lasted a lifetime.
Her 4-H experience inspired both her and husband, Dick, to establish the Keller Mineral County 4-H Endowment. The endowment will provide discretionary funding to the Mineral County 4-H program, granting scholarships, travel assistance to 4-H events for volunteers and youths, and funding to support the program in general.
“Dick and I both feel that the 4-H program is still important today,” Keller said “I firmly believe that scholarships to camp and other experiences are beneficial to the 4-H youth.”
Mineral County WVU Extension 4-H Agent Margaret Miltenberger said that the gift will become a fund that the program can build upon.
“The Kellers have created a true legacy of the Mineral County 4-H program,” Miltenberger said. “This funding will ensure the strength and viability of the program for years to come, and we hope that it will also serve as a beacon for future investments in the program by other former 4-H’ers and friends of the program.”
Keller’s 4-H roots are deep. She and her brother were active in the Klover 4-H Club in Burlington. She has fond memories of attending county camp, Girls State, and Older Youth 4-H camps at WVU Jackson’s Mill. Her aunt, Lola Bane, was the leader of the Klover Club for many years.
“We had good 4-H agents in the county, Florence Howard and June Myers. The leaders were very inspiring, I remember Ruth Knoch Jones’ clothing classes, which influenced me in becoming a home economics teacher,” Keller said.
“My mother was active in the local Farm Women’s Club and went to meetings and home demonstration activities at Jackson’s Mill, and of course that was an influence on me as well,” she said.
Keller and her husband attended Potomac State College and then WVU. Keller earned degrees in home economics and home economics education, while Dick became an electrical engineer. Following graduation, the Kellers married and made their home in Keyser. Together they raised three children, two sons and a daughter, all of whom were 4-H’ers and graduated from WVU.
While her children were growing up, Keller served for many years as leader of their Golddiggers 4-H Club in Keyser. Dick was a dutiful 4-H leader spouse, driving the carpool, and toting the boxes, posters and other equipment to activities.
Keller credits participation in the demonstrations and talks with helping her daughter, Patricia, develop her public speaking skills. Those skills have served her daughter well in her career as a Family Law Judge in Cabell County.
Keller taught for 28 years in high schools in Mineral County and at the West Virginia School for the Blind, while Dick had a 31-year career as an electrical engineer with Westvaco/Mead Westvaco in Luke, Md. They both retired in 1994.
The Kellers are active members of Grace United Methodist Church in Keyser. She also teaches an “Active for Life” exercise program at the local senior center. She is a member of the Busy Bees CEOS and Alpha Delta Kappa, a sorority for women educators.
Their endowment gift is being made through the WVU Foundation, a private nonprofit corporation that generates and provides support for West Virginia University.