Mr. Harry Leitch Mckeown

OBITUARY: Harry L. McKeown Harry Leitch McKeown, 91, died peacefully in Hospice House of Huntington, WV surrounded by family on Jan 11, 2013. He lived a long life full of adventures, family, friends, and a sense of humor. Born July 6, 1921 in Philadelphia, PA, he was the only son of Leitch “Lee” McKeown and Mary McNeill McKeown, both of whom immigrated to the U.S. from County Antrim, Ireland. He graduated from Germantown High School and from Temple University in Philadelphia. In Boy Scout Troop 249 at Second Baptist Church of Germantown, PA, he met lifelong friends in the “Petit Larceny Patrol,” and at the same time met his future wife, Virginia-Lou Austin. Harry served in World War II with the 70th U.S. Army Infantry division, on reconnaissance in France and Germany in the 1944-45 drive to capture Saarbrucken, attaining the rank of sergeant. He worked at Capon Springs and Farms resort, Hampshire County, WV, as manager of maintenance and finance from 1946 until his retirement in 1982. In 1946 he married Virginia-Lou “Ginny” Austin, and they celebrated 66 years together, including national and world travel, residing at the Woodlands retirement community in Huntington until Virginia-Lou died on Oct. 31, 2012. Harry was a member of Second Baptist Church, Germantown, PA; First Baptist Church, Winchester, VA; and Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, Huntington, WV. He is survived by three daughters, Bonni McKeown of Charleston, WV, and Chicago, IL, Laurie McKeown of Huntington, WV and Marylin McKeown of Charleston, WV; son-in-law Douglas Imbrogno of Huntington, WV; his grandchildren, Lou and husband Ben Gilmore of New Bern, NC, Lucas Imbrogno McKeown and Grace Imbrogno McKeown of Huntington, WV; his great-grandchildren, Mia, A.J. and Wes Gilmore; his brother-in-law, Ted Austin of Winchester, VA; his sister-in-law, Eunice Lee Austin of Winchester, VA; cousin-in-law, Jeannette McNeill of Philadelphia, PA and her family; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Celebration of the lives of Harry and Virginia-Lou McKeown will be held on April 27 at 7pm at Capon Springs & Farms, WV. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to TEAM for West Virginia Children, PO Box 1653, Huntington, WV 25717 or Virginia Association of Rail Passengers, PO Box 867, Richmond, VA 23218. Reger Funeral Home, Huntington, is assisting the family. Condolences may be expressed at www.regerfh.com.