Keith Edward Ober

Keith Edward Ober was born June 13, 1950 to Sara Anna Ober. Keith was raised as the third of four sons by his aunt and uncle, Kathleen and Ray Kalp in Stahlstown, PA. During his childhood and youth, he was active in Trinity United Methodist Church, Stahlstown, PA and its youth group. At home, Keith helped his “Pap” with his beekeeping business and his mother had to share her kitchen with him as Keith loved to cook and bake from a young age. He enjoyed hiking, swimming, skiing, and riding motorcycles with his brothers in the scenic Laurel Highlands. While attending Mt. Pleasant High School, he developed his love of music, playing the clarinet in the marching band. Keith graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1968 and began his collegiate studies at California State College (now Pennsylvania Western University) that fall. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education – Mathematics in three years graduating in May 1971. During his senior year of college, Keith enlisted in the United States Army Reserves, joining an Engineering Battalion. Upon moving to central PA, Keith transferred to the 316th Station Hospital, Harrisburg, PA where he proudly served as a dental specialist from 1974-1991 and was mobilized in support of Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War.

Keith began his teaching career at Terra Alta High School in Terra Alta, WV teaching various levels of high school mathematics. Keith was drawn to help those in prison earn their GEDs and began teaching at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill (SCIC) in 1974. While teaching at SCIC, he met the love of his life, Jane, who was assigned as a student teacher under his tutelage in 1976. He proposed in July of that year, and they married on December 23, 1976.

Keith and Jane continued their Christian faith journey with their brothers and sisters at Trinity United Methodist Church in New Kingstown, where he was a member for 47 years. Keith and Jane loved cheering for Carlisle Thundering Herd basketball and the Pittsburgh Steelers and loved the beach, often traveling to Ocean City, NJ to spend a relaxing Saturday, and vacationing in the Bahamas and Hawaii.

In 1987, Keith and Jane were blessed to welcome their daughter Courtney into their hearts and home. Keith was “head over heels” for their daughter and was a devoted father raising her in a Christian home and supporting her academic studies and many school and church-related activities. The family loved the ocean and being at the beach and took many family vacations to Stone Harbor, NJ and Myrtle Beach, SC.

Keith’s hobbies included gardening, especially raising beautiful and delicious tomatoes, cooking, landscaping, small home construction projects, and keeping his family entertained. Keith had a quick wit and would constantly entertain with his quips and jokes. Keith and Jane were blessed to welcome Matthew Kayatin into the family, celebrating Courtney and Matthew’s marriage in June 2024. 

Keith went to meet his Lord on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, with his wife by his side. He is survived by his wife Jane of Carlisle, his daughter, Courtney Kayatin (Matthew) of Cary, NC, and by his siblings Larry Kalp (Hollie) of Moneta, VA and Randy Kalp of Fayetteville, PA. He is also survived by his brother-in-law John Finley (Sharon) of Hernando, FL and sister-in-law Ann Catalano (John) of Savannah, GA, and nieces and nephews Kelly Leazier, Bret Kalp (Naomi), Laurel Sviatko (Steve), Lars Kalp, Kristen Kalp, and Jillian Catalano. Keith is also survived by his great nephews: Jonathan, Miles, Jadon, Matthew, Andy, Tucker, Tegan, and Tatem. Keith was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Kathleen Kalp and by his brother, Dale Kalp, and his sister-in-law, Marie Kalp.

The family would like to extend a very sincere thank you to the paramedics and police officers of North Middleton Township and to Dr. Matthew Legg and other staff in the emergency room at UPMC Carlisle for their excellent care for Keith.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 21,2024 at Hoffman Funeral & Cremation, 2020 W. Trindle Road, Carlisle, PA 17013 with Rev. Joseph L. Kugle officiating. Family and friends are welcome to visit with Keith’s family from 10:00 – 11:00 am. A private graveside service will be held at Cumberland Valley Memorial Gardens, Carlisle, PA. A luncheon for friends and family will follow at the Carlisle Masonic Center, 1236 Holly Pike, Carlisle, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to: The Ober Family Scholarship, c/o The Bison Foundation, 540 West North Street, Carlisle, PA 17013, Community CARES, 50 W. Penn Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 ( www.morethanshelter.org/give-financially ) , and/or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society c/o LLS Donor Services, PO Box 22324, NY, NY 10087 ( www.lls.org ) .