Francis Lee Keller, 77, of Fort Wayne, died at 2:21 p.m. Saturday, February 12, 2022, at the home of his daughter near Tri-Lakes, where he was receiving in-home care.

Born on November 18, 1944, in Wichita, Kansas, he was a son of the late Basil M. and Wilma (Amerine) Keller. He graduated from Haviland High School in 1962 with a class of eight.

Francis joined the U.S. Army, where he received training in the new field of computer programming. He was honorably discharged in 1969.

On January 8, 1967, he married Phyllis Jean Anderson. Following Francis's discharge, the couple returned to Kansas for a few months before taking a job with General Telephone and Electronics Corp (GTE). They moved to Fort Wayne. His job as a computer programmer with GTE, later becoming Verizon, took him to the Dominican Republic for a couple of years, and Plant City, Florida for a few years.  Returning to Fort Wayne, he retired in 2003 but continued to work as a special projects contract employee for the communications company.

In his early years, he participated in the area rodeos as a rodeo rider. Throughout his life, he liked to read, especially science fiction books. In season, he would hunt deer and rabbits. Participating as a 4H leader for many years, he was instrumental in forming the Allen County Goat Club. When the grandchildren came along, they became his pride and joy, sharing his fondness for sweets. With the endless repair list around the house, he was often found fixing and tinkering but always completing the task.

Surviving is his wife of 55 years, Phyllis; four daughters LaDena (Owe) Laine of Finland, Alison (Daniel) Trigg of Columbia City, Regina (Scott) Dantzer of Huntington, and Andrea (Tony) Spillers of Fort Wayne; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister Diane (Larry) Foulk of Maxville, KS; a brother Gene (Betty) Keller of Edmond, OK; and a sister-in-law Beverly Keller of Wichita Falls, TX.

He was preceded in death by a brother Stacy Keller.

Keeping with Francis's wishes, there will be no services. Arrangements are entrusted to Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.

Preferred memorials in Francis's honor are to Living Grace Community Church, PO Box 25629, Fort Wayne, IN 46825.