More detail on this person: Dana Ed Keeney,
also known as Ed, passed away Friday, April 20,
2012, at his home in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Born in Prenter, W.Va., on May 23, 1949, to
parents Charles E. Keeney and the late Frances
(McCormick) Keeney, Ed grew up in his hometown
of Carlsbad, N.M.
He began his career in the U.S. Army as a warrant
officer. Immediately after flight school Ed was
deployed to Vietnam as an OH-6 Scout pilot in the
1st Cavalry Division. He flew 400 combat missions,
was shot down three times within a 48-hour period,
and was severely wounded the last time he went
down. He was awarded the following medals for
heroism: Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf
cluster, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, the
Bronze Star with V, Air Medal with 14 oak leaf
clusters, and the Purple Heart. Ed was also
awarded the Master Aviator Wings, Meritorious
Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and National
Defense and Army Commendation Medals. He
retired out of Fort Rucker, Ala., as a Chief
Warrant Officer Four (CW4) with 26 years of
service.
After his military retirement, Ed continued his
career in helicopter aviation, flying for
Petroleum Helicopters Inc. (PHI). For over eight
years Ed flew oil inspectors to the platforms in
the Gulf of Mexico.
Ed was a man of faith and was a member of Calvary
Baptist Church. He was a loving husband, father
and grandfather. He also was a member of the
Emerald Coast Mustang Club and enjoyed his
Shelby Mustangs. In his younger years, Ed was a
2nd degree black belt and instructor in Hapkido.
He also enjoyed deep sea fishing, scuba diving,
watching NASCAR races, making model cars,
helicopters and planes. He will be missed dearly.
Ed is survived by his wife, Chong Keeney; five
children, Clint Keeney, Trisha Holub, Jason Durr,
Susan Keeney and Melisha Keeney; five
grandchildren, Alexander Rivera, Serena Keeney,
Cameron Wilson, Caden Wilson and Joshua Holub;
father, Charles Keeney; sister, Tara Olds; and
many close friends.
Funeral services will be at Calvary Baptist
Church, Clifford Street, on Monday, April 30, at
10 a.m. for close friends and family. His body
will be transported to Barrancas National
Cemetery, Naval Air Station, 1 Cemetery Rd.
Pensacola, Fla. His burial ceremony will be
conducted at 2 p.m. at Shelter B and will include
full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
Calvary Baptist Church and The Emerald Coast
Mustang Club.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home is handling
arrangements.
Published in Northwest Florida Daily News from
April 27 to April 28, 2012
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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