William Keys

William Dale Keys was born March 23, 1937, in Lander, Wyoming, to Dale Harold Keys and Elizabeth Lavay Keys. Bill was the youngest of four children and was born during the Depression. When he was four years old, his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, and by the age of six they had settled in Redondo Beach, California.

Bill grew up in the beach culture of Southern California. His father was a union carpenter, and Bill followed in his footsteps early on, working as a carpenter’s apprentice during the summers while attending Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach. He carried a heavy math curriculum in school and graduated in 1955.

After high school, Bill went to work for North American Aviation as a template maker before later taking a job with Goodyear Parts Distributors. In 1958, he married Ginger Kettleman in Redondo Beach, California, and together they had three children: Kennette Lavay, Gregory William, and Randall Brian.

Bill and Ginger took out a loan and opened Keys Service Center, a garage and gas station in Hermosa Beach, California. Bill also trained to become a heavy equipment operator. After selling the garage, they moved to Garden Grove and purchased a Richfield gas station. A short time later, Bill sold the station and moved to Vietnam, where he worked for Vinnell Corporation as a trucking manager.

Bill worked in several cities throughout Vietnam. After working for Vinnell Corporation, he went to work for Philco-Ford as a heavy equipment superintendent and manager. He was highly respected for his knowledge and problem-solving abilities and worked closely with the U.S. government on projects such as coordinating the stays of many foreign diplomats.

Bill married Lynn Nguyen in 1967 and formally married her in 1972. Together they had two daughters, Linda Vay and Lynnette Patricia.

In 1974, Bill, Lynn, and the girls returned to the United States, where Bill worked for Parsons Corporation on the Alaskan pipeline housing module project. In 1977, they moved to Iran, where Bill continued working for Parsons as a construction manager. Three months later, he accepted a position with Lockheed Martin in Iran. They eventually left Iran when the Shah of Iran fell.

From 1980 through 1984, Bill worked for King Fahd in Saudi Arabia as a construction project manager and served on the board of directors of one of the King’s companies. He also served as the project manager for what was the largest airport in the world at the time. He helped coordinate the construction of the Hajj terminals, where Muslim pilgrims from around the world stayed during their pilgrimage to Mecca. In recognition of his work and the respect he earned there, Bill was granted special permission to visit Mecca, despite not being Muslim.

Bill and his family returned to the United States in 1984 and settled in Underwood, Washington. Other than a two-year return to Saudi Arabia for work, Bill spent the remainder of his life living in various places throughout Washington State. He spent his final years in the Vancouver, Washington area, where he cherished being close to his son Greg, his daughters Linda and Lynnette, and his six grandchildren: Mickaela, Brandon, Marissa, Cameron, Olivia, and Riley.

Bill had a work ethic like no other and worked tirelessly to support his family. Everyone who worked for him respected and loved him because he was fair, knowledgeable, and kind.

He was a devoted husband who loved Lynn deeply and spent his life caring for and protecting her. No matter what challenges came their way, Bill was always by her side, making sure she was cared for and never alone. Even in his final moments, with great effort and strength, Bill gave Lynn two final kisses — a lasting reflection of the love they shared.

Bill was also a wonderful father and grandfather who was always there to offer advice, guidance, and support whenever it was needed. He passed on important life lessons, strong values, and wisdom to his children and grandchildren.

Bill had an adventurous spirit that led him to see much of the world. He enjoyed photography, loved NASCAR, and deeply loved the Pacific Northwest. He especially loved the outdoors and could often be found hunting or fishing whenever he had the chance.

Bill’s wisdom, strength, and love for his family and his many great friends will never be forgotten.