Elvin W. "Bill" Keith III passed away after a brief illness on July 25, 2025, in Cadillac, MI.

Born on April 14, 1943, in Pottsville, PA, Bill was the oldest of the four children of Elvin and Mary (Garrigan) Keith. When Bill was about 12, the family moved from to Norwood, a suburb of Philadelphia, where he spent the rest of his childhood.

Bill attended St. James High School for Boys in Chester, PA, where he excelled at track and field. He competed at the Penn Relays in the pole vault event. He also signed up for the Marine Corps while still in high school, and so entered Officers' Training School when he began college at West Chester State Teachers' College.

After graduating with an education degree in Secondary Social Studies in 1965, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Vietnam, Spain, and Scotland. Upon completing his military service in 1970, he joined the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover and served as a Special Agent in Houston, Texas, Detroit, and Grand Rapids before retiring as Senior Agent at South Bend, IN, in 1993.

After retirement from the FBI, Bill began a new career as a social studies teacher at Constantine (MI) High School, where he was head cross-country coach and assistant track coach. After teaching for 7 years, he began what he often referred to as his "fun retirement job," selling skis and kayaks at Lee's Sporting Goods in Kalamazoo, MI. After a move to Cadillac, MI, he resumed teaching at the college level at Baker College of Cadillac. He retired from there in 2015.

Bill's hobbies included both downhill and cross-country skiing, golfing, bicycling, kayaking, motorcycling, dog agility competition, and camping. He was also an avid hunter, both in Michigan and Wyoming. He sang in church and community choirs for many years. He was an active member of the VFW, and at his passing, was the Commander of VFW Post #3314 at Arcadia, MI. Bill established and served as group leader of the Cadillac and Frankfort chapters of Vet to Vet, a veterans' peer support organization.

Bill loved his dogs more than just about anything. He and his dog, Remy, achieved a Dog Agility Championship. At his passing, his dog, Reno, was his best bud.

Bill was a gregarious, outgoing guy. He will be sorely missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elvin and Mary Keith; his sister Molly; and his brother John.
He is survived by his wife, Anne; his brother, Robert; his daughters, Becky (Pat) Ahearne and Christy (Todd) Eaton; his step-daughter, Julie (Gavin) Kentch; his grandchildren, Megan, Kelly, Melia, Cade, Bridget, and Audrey; many nieces and nephews; his dog Reno; and a host of family and friends who will miss him greatly.

A memorial will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 6, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 955 James Street, Frankfort, MI 49635.

Memorial contributions in memory of Bill may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church of Frankfort or the DAV.

The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Manistee.