George B. Keyes, 97, died May 17, 2013, at Nursing Care by Angels Assisted Living in Palm Bay.
He was in Worcester, Mass., in 1932.
He was employed by ANSCO Co., a division of GAF Corp., of Binghamton, N.Y.
He retired as a photographic engineer in 1973 after 27 years of service.
He joined the Coast Guard as chief boatswain’s mate and CO of the Coast Guard Reserve Schooner Mohawk (CGR-2543) in the Coastal Picket Patrol based at Nantucket, Mass., during 1942 and 1943.
He later served aboard the Coast Guard manned transport USS Cavalier (APA-37), where he was wounded during the landings at Linuyen Gulf on Jan. 8, 1945, during the Liberation of the Philippines.
He formed the first unit of the Barrington Sea Scouts in Rhode Island and attended the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence upon graduating from the Mechanic’s Institute, Rochester, N.Y., in 1939.
He was a member of the Photographic Society of America, Owego Camera Club, U.S. Power Squadron, Barrington Preservation Society, Sterling Historical Society, Sebastian Area Historical Society, Friends of the North Indian River County Library and Disabled American Veterans.
He moved to Sebastian in 1979, where he helped establish the North Indian River County Library.
He was a volunteer at the library for 30 years.
In 1985, he helped form the Sebastian Area Historical Society and was a member of the board of directors.
He worked with a research group collecting historical records and stories of the early settlers which were published in three volumes of “Tales of Sebastian” books.
Survivors include his daughters, Carol Annis of Virginia and Judith Knapp, of California; son, John Keyes, of Florida; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Keyes.
Memorial contributions may be made to the North Indian River County Library, 1001 Sebastian Blvd, Sebastian, FL 32958 or the Sebastian Historical Society, 1235 Main St., Sebastian, FL 32958.
None are planned.
Arrangements are by the Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach.
A guest book is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.
