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DEATHS: KELLER-In Santa Cruz May 23, 1937, Charles F. Keller, father of R.W. Keller of Branciforte Drive, uncle of Mrs. Joseph Hooper of Capitola; a native of Pennsylvania, aged 91 years.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. from the White Mortuary. Friends and acquaintances respectfully invited to attend. Burial in the family plot of the I.O.O.F. cemetery.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (May 25, 1937)

Was With Sherman on His Ride to Sea

Charles F. Keller who rose" from Atlanta to the Sea" in Sherman's march and who was also distinguished as the founder of Sequoia National Park died at the extreme age of 91, Sunday morning at a local hospital.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. from the White mortuary here. Interment will be in the family plot of the I.O.O.F. cemetery.

Mr. Keller was born in Pennsylvania and this county has been his home for about 20 years. Since last fall he had made his home with a niece, Mrs. Joseph Hooper of Capitola. Also surviving him are a son, R. W. Keller of Branciforte Drive Four grandchildren and six great grand children.

Editor's note: A Santa Cruz Evening News article of May 24, 1937 also indicated that Charles F Keller was "A colorful and well known character in this area where he had lived for 18 years, and in Capitola since last fall. The white haired, goateed veteran of the Grand Army of the Republic also was distinguished as a founder of Sequoia National Park. In reference to his founding the Sequoia National Park there was a federal recognition last year, when government officials came from Washington D.C. to obtain from him early history of the park."

Santa Cruz Evening News (March 26, 1937)

Funeral Held for Charles Keller, Civil War Veteran

Funeral services for Charles F. Keller, Civil War veteran and Sequoia National Park founder who died here Sunday were held at 10 o'clock today from White Mortuary.

The Rev. John F. Wilson, pastor of the First Methodist Church officiated. Mrs. Abra Budworth sang "When we Gather at the River," and "Abide with Me accompanied at the organ by Violet Patterson.

Internment was in the family plot at I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Pallbearers were Walter Keller, Daniel Z. Tobin, and Del Walfrom grandsons, and C.G. Cowden, R.J. Desmond and Harry Hooper.

Date of Birth: 1846-05-01

Date of Death: 1937-21-03

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Santa Cruz Memorial Park

Plot: M44

Mortuary: WM

Spouse: (Keller) Carolyn N

Occupation: Admin/NtlPark

Religion: Me

Local Address: Branciforte

Last City: Santa Cruz

Native of: PA

Enlisted: 1864/09/20

Discharged: 1865/06/08

Military Unit: OH_ 180 Inf_ Co H?

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: R_

GAR#: WR32

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: EVN 1937/03/26