Keith L Phinney Obituary (1924 - 2016)

CHELMSFORD Keith L. Phinney, 91, a resident of Chelmsford, passed away on Sunday, April 10, 2016 at Lowell General Hospital. Beloved husband of Elisabeth A. (Duenkel) Phinney with whom he shared 59 years of marriage. He was born in Chelsea on August 26, 1924, son of the late Henry M. and Elizabeth J. (Mitchell) Phinney. Keith proudly served as a B-17 bomber pilot in the United States Army Air Corp during WWII. He earned his undergraduate and Masters Degrees from Boston University. Keith was Director of Music for the Bedford, MA School System for 35 years until his retirement in 1988. He was music director of several choral societies including Wellesley Choral Society, Polymnia in Melrose, First Baptist Church in Melrose and Lynnfield Congregational Church. He performed at North Shore Musical Theater and with Boston Pops. In his retirement years, he worked as a teller at local banks until he was 80 years old. In addition to his loving wife, Elisabeth, Keith is survived by his children, Monique E. Billingsley and her husband Glenn of Lowell, Wimburne D. Phinney and Jodi Delay of Plano, TX, and Kurt W. Phinney and his wife Pamela of NJ; seven grandchildren and their spouses: Kenneth Billingsley and Courtney Mulroy, Lisa and Kenneth Pantuso, Wimburne and Katy Phinney, Bri Phinney and Nate Sanders; Jackson, Caroline and Madelyn Phinney; three great-grandchildren, Lilla, Charlotte, and Violet; his brother and sister-in-law, James and Shirley Phinney of NJ; and sister-in-law Ilse Muehlich of Germany. He was the brother of the late Maxine Vaitses. At the request of the family there will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be celebrated on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 1PM at Central Congregational Church, UCC, One Worthen St., Chelmsford, MA. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to POMS-Keith Phinney Vocal Award, POMS, Bedford High School, 9 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA 01730. Service Information April 17, 2016 1:00pm, Central Congregational Church, UCC One Worthen Street Chelmsford, MA 01824 Interment Location Interment will be private.