The Living Church

Year Article Type Limit by Author

The Living ChurchJune 11, 1995Bishop Keller of Arkansas Dies 210(24) p. 11

The Rt. Rev. Christoph Keller Jr., 10th Bishop of Arkansas, died in Alexandria, LA, May 19 following a long illness. He was 79. Bishop Keller had retired in 1981 following 14 years in the episcopate, three as coadjutor and 11 as diocesan.

Bishop Keller was a native of Bay City, Mich. He spent part of his youth in Great Falls, Mont. and went on to graduate from Washington and Lee University. He served in the Marine Corps during World War II, then entered business. He received theological training at the University of the South and General Theological Seminary. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1956 and to the priesthood the following year in the Diocese of Arkansas. He became vicar of St. James' Church, Eureka Springs, Ark., in 1957 and remained there until 1959. He also served St. John's, Harrison, and St. Andrew's, Mountain Home, from 1957 to 1962. In 1962, he became rector of St. Andrew's, Jackson, Miss., and was named dean in 1966 when the parish became a cathedral.

A year later he was consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of Arkansas, and served in that ministry until 1970, when he became diocesan.

He was a trustee of General and the University of the South, and also served on the board of regents at the latter institution. He was a member of the Living Church Foundation for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Caroline, six children and two brothers.