William Keating

William Keating of Walnut Creek, California died Friday, July 8, 2011 at the Bruns Hospice in Alamo. Bill suffered a stroke in November of 2009 and had been cared for at his home in Walnut Creek until recently. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 2, 1915 to Maurice and Grace Keating, he moved to Salt Lake City and subsequently Los Angeles during his high school years, attending both East High in Salt Lake and graduating from Beverly High in Los Angeles in 1933. Inspired by the flight of Charles Lindberg as a teenager, he and his brother Maury both had long and significant careers in aviation. Bill flew his first solo at Oakland Airport in 1937 in a biplane and went on to fly almost every type of aircraft available until his retirement. Beginning his career delivering B 24?s for the lend lease program and flying them from San Diego to Bermuda and later flying the amphibious PBY?s to Manila, he went on to fly for Transocean Airlines, Lufthansa and ultimately World Airlines where he was the Chief Pilot. During the Vietnam War he was one of the principal pilots at World that brought a large number of orphan Vietnamese children out of the war zone to safety in California. He flew his own airplanes including a radial engine Howard, a Cessna, and a Piper Apache as well as enjoyed serving as a technical director for several movies made from the books of his friend Ernie Gann, including ?The High and the Mighty? with John Wayne. His passion was sports cars. Over a number of years he owned an MGTC, an XK 120 Jaguar, an Aston Martin DB2 and a Ferrari with which he won best in class in 1954 at the annual Pebble Beach Concours. Afterwards he owned and drove Porsches up until his 90?s. Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Billie of sixty nine years, and was a devoted father to his son, Richard Keating, daughter in law, Bonnie Keating, and grandchildren Will, Marie, Nicholas and Lily, brother Jack Keating, sister in laws, Libby Keating and Margaret Keating, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo on August 20th from 1 - 4 pm. Donations would be welcome at the Oakland Aviation Museum or the Bruns House in Alamo.