Obituary: William C “Bill” Keeney, 84

Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home:

EAST LYME, CT - William C “Bill” Keeney, of East Lyme, passed away January 17, 2020 at the age of 84.

He was born February 14, 1935 in New London, Connecticut. The son of the late Edwin and Blanche (Kenyon) Keeney.

In 1958 Bill served in the Army Intelligence Corps for two years , and served three more years in the Army Reserve. He attended New London High School, Williston Academy, and was a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Political Science. He worked at Georgia Pacific for over 20 years rising to general manager of the bag division. After leaving Georgia Pacific, Bill became an entrepreneur, eventually returning to his home state of Connecticut, and purchasing the long time local dry cleaner, Shalett’s, which he successfully ran for over 21 years. Bill’s long time friend Frank Londregan was instrumental in the purchase of Shalett’s.

Bill is survived by his wife Beatrice (Bindloss), his daughters: Lisa Davne (Sanford); Arden Freeman (David); and Megan Keeney. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Wesley Freeman, William Miller, Clarke Freeman and Hayley Freeman.

Bill loved the Red Sox and could be seen most summer evenings watching the Sox out on the deck overlooking Banning Cove. One of his happiest days was when the Red Sox broke the “curse of the Bambino” and brought home a World Series Championship.

Bill’s career at Georgia Pacific took him many places around the country, in towns both small and large. He made friends easily at all of his stops and most of them remained lifelong friends.

His grandchildren’s fondest memories were spent as first mates to Captain Papa on his boat cruising the Niantic River.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Flanders Baptist Church in East Lyme.