Joseph Harvey Keyser

Beloved husband, father, friend, grandfather and  great grandfather, Joseph Harvey Keyser, died at home on July 28th.

Harvey was preceded in death by daughter, Jo Ann, his parents, his sister and most recently a brother along with several close friends.

While Harvey and Arlene were originally from Philadelphia, Harvey considered himself a true Virginian. Harvey met Arlene when they were teenagers. Arlene tells the story that Harvey and their friends used to hang out on the block together. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this year.

He was a musician and member of the Philadelphia Mummers, Kensington Division.

Harvey took college engineering classes at night after he worked days at Philadelphia Gear. Then in 1967, he moved the family to Madison Heights, Virginia to work for the sister company, then known as Limitorque, in Lynchburg, Virginia.

By this time, Terry (Pinnelli), Kathy (Moss) and Janet (Baker) were in the picture keeping Arlene and Harvey on their toes.

Over many years, Harvey volunteered with Junior Achievement, Holy Cross Church, Holy Cross School and at the local hospitals. However, his true love, other than that for his God and his family, was for the sport of golf. Harvey’s golf endeavors took him to many local courses and others along the East Coast. He would tell you, “there’s never a bad day on the golf course” and on the hottest days of summer you could hear him say, “There’s always a breeze on the golf course.”

Harvey enjoyed working on the house and he took pride on how he maintained their yard.

In 1985, Harvey and Arlene welcomed their first grandchild. Kathy and Mike Moss, gave us Alison Marie. Ali was followed by Charles Alexander Pinnelli, the loving gift of a first grandson from Terry and Charles Pinnelli. Amanda Marie Pinnelli followed her brother a year and a half later. Arlene and Harvey have a sign in their home that says, “If I’d known grandkids were this great I’d have had them first.”

In 1990, Joseph Preston Moss was born and 8 months later Steven Andrew Pinnelli arrived. Harvey and Arlene spent time with their grandchildren in Madison Heights and in New Jersey with the Pinnelli family.

In 1996, Joseph Luke Balas was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia and the trips for Arlene and Harvey continued to Janet’s house instead. Janet (Keyser) Baker and Ernie Baker kept the family moving on band trips to watch Luke perform in high school and in college.

The blessings continued to thrill Harvey most recently with other family additions, including  Mack Childress( Ali Moss), Mario Pavoni (Amanda Pinnelli Pavoni), Alyvia Maria Pavoni, Emily Pinnelli (Charles Alexander Pinnelli) and Mario Michael Pavoni.

Knowing Harvey— you know that he loved to laugh and tell a joke and if he slapped his knees  or opened his eyes widely you knew the joke “tickled” him.

Harvey went by several names: Harvey, Mr. Harv, Poppy, Poppy Ray-Jay, Great Pop Pop and of course, Dad.

Harvey has gifted his family ——who will greatly miss his earthly presence—honesty, integrity, a sense of humor, and the reminder to always pray for God’s mercy and to be thankful to all that our Lord has given to us.

Let us recall one of Harvey’s favorites”

 

Psalm 118:24

“This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Harvey’s family and friends will continue to celebrate his earthly legacy.

In addition, the family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Centra Hospice (2097 Langhorne Rd, Lynchburg, VA 24501) or Holy Cross Catholic Church (710 Clay St, Lynchburg, VA 24504)

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Madison Heights assisting the family.

 

View Tribute Video