Keith Gardner Nebeker (1924-1952)

First Lt. Keith Gardner Nebeker

OBITUARY
Lt. Keith Nebeker

SPRINGVILLE (Special) - Funeral services for First Lt. Keith Gardner Nebeker, 28, Springville naval flier who was killed near New Orleans, La., will be conducted Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Springville Eighth Ward Chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Leo Crandall, bishop.

Lt. Nebeker was practicing night flying at the Naval Air Station when his Cosair fighter crashed and sank in Lake Pontchartrain. He was making his next-to-last scheduled flight in a Navy refresher course.

Navy and Coast Guard rescue crews recovered the body early Friday.

Born Jan 1, 1924, in Los Angeles, he was a son of E. Harmer and Gwen Gardner Nebeker, 241 W. 7th South, Springville. He attended Springville Schools and was graduated from Springville High School.

He became a naval air cadet in 1942 and was commissioned a fighter pilot. He served for four years in the Pacific theater during World War II and received the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross.

He reenlisted March 1 and was stationed in New Orleans.

He married Lorraine Irick in April 1944. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Survivors include his widow and two sons, Ronald Allen, 6, and Robert Lynn, 2, all of New Orleans; his parents; two brothers and a sister, Max Dellis Nebeker, Castle Rock, Wash.; Leon Gene Nebeker, Hamilton, Mont., and Miss Elva Darlene Nebeker, Springville; a grandfather, William Nebeker, North Redondo Beach, Cal.

Friends may call Wednesday from 10 a.m. to time of services at Claudin Funeral Home. Burial will be in Springville Evergreen Cemetery.

Published in The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah) 28 Apr 1952, page 39.