KELLER, Helen Louise Stetler
Explosion Kills Veedersburg Mother; Father Critical
Source: "Obituaries - Year - 1960 Volume B" from the Covington Public Library. Year 1964
Preparations to go vote in this 1964 Presidential Election year ended in tragedy Tuesday afternoon November 3, for one Veedersburg family. Walter Keller and his wife, Helen Louise Stetler Keller, . were in the basement of their home at about 3:30 p.m. when Walter struck a match to light the hot water heater so he could take a shower before going to vote.
The ensuing gas explosion cost Mrs. Keller her life and the life of her husband still hangs in the balance. Mrs. Keller had complained throughout the day of smelling gas and the couple had some recent work done on their gas lines.
Windows were blown from the house, the foundation blown out, and the floors buckled. The Kellers were buying the house on, contract from Mrs. Mary Florey of Veedersburg and they had lived there two years. The house is completely insured.
Cindy, 12 year old daughter of the Kellers was in the house at the time of the explosion but the four sons were all away from the house.
The Veedersburg Volunteer fire department responded to the call and the Fishero ambulance. Upon arrival of the ambulance Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ghormley, of the Fishero Funeral Home, found Mrs. Keller lying in the yard with her husband walking around nearby in a dazed condition.
Gordon Smith, a next-door neighbor of the Kellers, was working in his garage at the time of the explosion, and he said that Mr. Keller carried his wife up from the basement. Mr. Keller was completely rational upon arrival at the St Elizabeth Hospital
in Danville, at whichi time he told of attempting to light the water heater to take a shower so he could "go vote. It was like a flash of light all over the basement," he said.
Mrs. Keller died from shock and burns at 3:25 a.m. at the hospital early Wednesday morning, November 4. She was born June I0, 1932 in Attica, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond (Ruth Riley) Stetler of Attca, who survive. Also surviving are five children: all at home: David, 14; Billy, 13; Cindy, 12; Kevin, 9; and Howard 7. One baby preceded her in death.
Aug. 24, 1949, Mrs Keller was married in Attica to Walter Keller, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Keller of Veedersburg. She was
employed at the Plastenes Corporation in Crawfordsville and was waiting call to return to work there. She was a member
of the Stone Bluff Nazarene Church.
Also surviving are five brothers, Jerry, who is with the Armed Forces in Germany; Robert of Denver; Lloyd and Larry of Attica; two sisters, Mrs. Virginia Ping of Covington and Mrs. Letha Serie of Attica.
Funeral services for Mrs. Keller will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday morning, November 7, at the Fishero Funeral Home with the Rev. Elmer Patterson of Veedersburg, assisted by the Rev. Edgar Ray of Knox, Ind., officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Attica. The casket will be closed.
The Keller children are staying with their aunt; Mrs. Joe Grimes of Veedersburg, R. 1. Mrs. Grimes is a sister to Mr. Keller. He is employed at the Veedersburg Brick Yard. The Red Cross is attempting to reach the brother Jerry in Germany.
Source: ? Newspaper -- article found in an old book full of obituaries
Veedersburg - Funeral services for Mrs. Helen Louise Keller, age 32, of Veedersburg, who died at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday Nov 4 at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Danville Ill of injuries sustained in a gas explosion at her home were held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fishero Funeral Home here. The Rev. Elmer Patterson and Rev. Edgar Ray officiated and burial at Riverside Cemetery, Attica. Mrs. Keller was born June 10, 1932 in Attica, daughter of Raymond and Ruth Riley Stetler. She was married Aug 24, 1949 to Walter Keller who is in critical condition at St. Elizabeth Hospital with 3rd degree burns over 50% of his body sustained in the same explosion. She had been employed at Plasteen at Crawfordsville. She was a member of the Stone Bluff Church of Nazarene. Surviving in addition to the husband are one daughter, Cindy and four sons, David, Billy, Kevin and Howard, all at home; her parents; five brothers, Robert Stetler of Denver, Colo; Lloyd of Attica; Carl of Lexington Ky; Larry of Attica and Jerry in the Army in Germany and two sisters, Mrs. Virginia Ping of Covington and Mrs. Letha Serie of Attica.
Source: ? Newspaper -- article found in an old book full of obituaries
Veedersburg - A 32-year-old man whose wife was killed Tuesday afternoon in an explosion at their home was still in critical conition Thursday at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Danville, Ill. He is Walter Keller, father of 5 children. He suffered burns about his face, stomach, arms and hands. His wife, Helen Keller, 30, was burned over most of her body. She died at the hospital about 10 hours after two explosions rocked the home in the northeast section of town. Authorities said the children were not hurt. Firemen believed the couple was in the basement near the heater when the blasts occured. Damage was limited to the area around the heater, fireman said. According to neighbors, the family's only girl, Cindy, 12 was in the living room at the time of the explosions. The four boys were believed to have been outside. Mrs. Keller was born at Attica June 10, 1932 to Raymond and Ruth Stetler. She married Walter on August 24, 1949. Surviving are five children: David 14; Billy 13; Cindy 12; Kevin 9 and Howard 7; five brothers Robert Stetler of Denver, Colo; Lloyd and Larry Stetler of Attica; Carl Stetler of Lexington Ky and Jerry Stetler in Germany with the Army; two sisters, Mrs. Virginia Ping of Covington and Mrs. Letha Serie of Attica. Mrs. Keller was a member of the Church of the Nazarene at Stone Bluff and worked at the Plastene Corporation in Crawfordsville. Funeral services for Mrs. Keller will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Fishero Funeral Home, Rev. Elmer Patterson will be assisted by Rev. Edgar Ray. Friends may call at the funeral home after 6 p.m. Thursday. Burial in Riverside Cemetery, Attica.
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review, November 4, 1964
VEEDERSBURG – A 30-year-old mother of five small children is dead and her husband is in critical condition in St. Elizabeth Hospital at Danville. Ill., as a result of two explosions in their home here late Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. Helen Keller, who suffered burns over most of her body, died in the hospital at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, about 10 hours after the explosions rocked the Keller home in the northeast section of town. Her husband, Walter, 32, was listed in critical condition Wednesday night. He suffered burns about his face, stomach, arms and hands and shock. Authorities, who have had difficulty in piecing together details of the tragedy because the victims were unable to be questioned due to the severity of their injuries, said neighbors heard two explosions in the Keller home about 4:30. They said the initial blast was followed almost immediately by another explosion. When firemen arrived at the scene, they found Mrs. Keller lying on the lawn, badly burned over most of her body and in a semiconscious condition. Her husband, also severely burned and in a state of shock, was wandering nearby. They were rushed by ambulance to the Danville hospital. Firemen believe a gas leak in the water heater in the basement triggered the initial blast. The upstairs portion of the home was not damaged, although the house was nearly blown off its foundation. The only fire, which was minor and was quickly extinguished by members of the Volunteer Fire Department, was found burning near the water heater. Firemen believed the couple was in the basement near the heater when the blasts occurred. Damage was limited to the area around the heater, firemen said. According to neighbors, the family’s only girl, Cindy, 12, was in the living room at the time of the explosions. The four boys were believed to have been playing outside. Mrs. Keller was born at Attica June 10, 1932, to Raymond and Ruth Riley Stetler. She married Walter Keller on Aug. 24, 1949. Surviving are five children, David 14, Billy 13, Cindy 12, Kevin 9 and Howard 7; five brothers, Robet Stetler of Denver, Lloyd and Larry Stetler of Attica, Carl Stetler of Lexington, Ky., and Jerry Stetler, in Germany with the Army; two sisters, Mrs. Virginia Ping of Covington and Mrs. Letha Serrie of Attica. Mrs. Keller was a member of the Church of the Nazarene at Stone Bluff and worked at the Plastene Corp. in Crawfordsville. The body was taken to the Fishero Funeral Home in Veedersburg where arrangements are pending the arrival of the brother from Germany. – jlr
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review, November 5, 1964
Rites for Mrs. Helen Keller, who died early Wednesday of burns suffered in a gas explosion at her home Tuesday afternoon, are set for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Fishero Funeral Home. Rev. Elmer Patterson will be assisted by Rev. Edgar Ray. Friends may call at the funeral home. The casket is closed. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery at Attica. Her husband, Walter, also badly burned in the blast, remained in critical condition late Thursday night in St. Elizabeth Hospital at Danville, Ill. – jlr
File Created: 21 August 2010