Keith Charles Carnahan, 75, of Lake Isabella, Calif., and a former resident of Halfway and Richland, died June 16, 2003, at his home.
There will be a graveside military service in his honor honor at 10 a.m. Monday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway.
Keith was born on Nov. 1, 1927, to Ernest Michael and Neva Elizabeth Bowerman Carnahan at Carson. He was raised at Halfway until the sixth grade when the family moved over to Richland. He graduated from high school at Richland.
During his life he served as a U.S. Army captain. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. While in the service he received a Purple Heart as well as many other medals.
He graduated from the University of Arizona at Tucson in 1959 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Keith worked for McDonnell Douglas and Northrop Corp. in California. He lived in Santa Monica, Costa Mesa and Lake Isabella.
Before Keith ever entered the service, he had a fascination with airplanes. He enjoyed putting models together, then as he got older and more knowledgeable, found that he enjoyed the challenge of putting together those airplanes that had been damaged by storm or wind. He always had an airplane in the garage that he could tinker with, and he was always able to give them a second chance to fly again.
With his personal private plane, he enjoyed flying. But he also enjoyed making deliveries of clothing and food goods for his church in Mexico.
Keith had great hopes of being a hunter or a fisherman, but he was far too restless to settle down and wait. He always had things that he had to do.
While his sister Ernestine was alive, he enjoyed coming to Halfway and spending the summer. And Ernestine as well, enjoyed spending her time at Lake Isabella with Keith during the winter.
Survivors include his wife, Ann Carnahan; children, Scott Carnahan, Mark Carnahan, Vicki Carnahan and Maureen Guyot-Carnahan; seven grandchildren; his sister, Claire Colliton of Yakima, Wash.; brother, Nolan Carnahan, and his wife, Barbara, of Baker City.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Carnahan and Neva Charters; brother, Kenneth Carnahan; and sisters, Mary Loueva Carder and Ernestine Engstrom.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church at Lake Isabella through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 23, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
