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April 26, 2005 PENNS CREEK - Paul K. Keene of Penns Creek died April 23, 2005, at the age of 94. For the last four years of his life, he was a resident of Messiah Village, Mechanicsburg. Born Oct. 12, 1910, in Lititz, Paul was the third son of James Edward and Nora Mary Keene. James Keene was a minister in the United Brethren Church and, as a result, his family moved from town to town in southeastern Pennsylvania. Paul lived in Lancaster, Monte Clare and Pine Grove during his early years. He graduated from Pine Grove High School in 1928 and enrolled in Lebanon Valley College in Annville, where he majored in math and physics. Following that, he received a master's in mathematics from Yale University and became a lecturer in mathematics at Drew University, Madison, N.J. In 1938, Paul left Drew to take a teaching position through the Methodist Church at Woodstock School in northern India. He spent a year and a half there - a period that was pivotal in his life. There, he met Enid Betty Morgan, also a teacher at Woodstock and the daughter of David and Edith Morgan, Welsh and English Baptist missionaries, respectively. In India, he became acquainted with Mahatma Gandhi and studied at Gandhi's village training school. He was deeply impressed by Gandhi's philosophy of simplicity and self-sufficiency. During his time in India, he also associated with Jawaharlal Nehru and Rabindranath Tagore and became involved in the Indian independence movement. In 1940, he married Betty Morgan and returned to the States. While in India, Paul heard for the first time of the work and studies of Sir Albert Howard, the father of the organic farming movement, who conducted his research on agriculture and nutrition there. On his return to the States, Paul again taught at Drew for a brief time before deciding that his life's call was to agriculture and self-sufficient living. In 1941, he and Betty joined the School of Living in Suffern, N.Y., founded by former Columbia economist Ralph Borsodi, as assistant directors. They stayed there for two years while learning small-scale organic gardening. From there, they moved to Kimberton Farm School near Philadelphia to learn organic and biodynamic farming methods under Dr. E. Pfeiffer. In 1945, Paul and Betty struck out on their own, purchasing Walnut Acres Farm near Penns Creek. On the farm, there were several apple trees that fruited abundantly. Paul and Betty made apple butter from their second crop and, by chance, a jar of that "Apple Essence" found its way to the food editor of the New York Herald Tribune, who wrote about it and the Keenes' farm. Soon, people were visiting from New York to see Walnut Acres and buy its products. In 1954, Paul helped found the Pennsylvania chapter of the Natural Foods Associates. For the next five decades, he spread the gospel of organic farming and natural living. Walnut Acres was perhaps the first retailer to grow, process and sell a large variety of organic foods worldwide. In 1964, Paul and Betty also created the Walnut Acres Foundation to further their belief in helping the community and the world. Over the years, many thousands of dollars were collected through the generosity of Walnut Acres customers and friends. Two projects became the primary focus of the foundation: the Walnut Acres Community Center, which held recreational and educational programs for the residents of Penns Creek and surrounding communities, and Family Village Farm, an orphanage in South India. At Family Village Farm, the foundation built several dormitories and classrooms and finally, in 1990, a large auditorium dedicated to the memory of Betty Keene, who died in 1987. Paul was an active member of Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Penns Creek for many decades. For 10 years, he was a member of the United Church Board for World Ministries. He was also actively involved as a member of the Middleburg joint school board and the Center Township supervisors. In 1971, he was awarded Susquehanna University's first Distinguished Citizenship Award, and in 1976, he was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Lebanon Valley College. In 1984, he was awarded the Community Partnership Award from Gov. Richard Thornburgh, and in 1986, he received a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In 1998, the Organic Trade Association presented Paul with the Organic Leadership Award. Music was very important in Paul's life, and as a graduate student, he sang with the Yale Glee Club. For nearly 30 years, he continued his love of singing as a member of the Susquehanna Valley Chorale. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his two brothers, John Keene of Phoenixville and J. Calvin Keene of Lewisburg. He is survived by his sister, Ruth Hostetter, wife of the Rev. Mark Hostetter of Cornwall, Pa.; his three daughters, Marjorie Ann Hartley, wife of Thomas Hartley of RR2 Middleburg, Ruth Keene Anderson, wife of William A. Payn of RR2 Middleburg, and Jocelyn Betty Keene, wife of Thomas Phillips of Pasadena, Calif.; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. A service celebrating Paul's life will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Emmanuel United Church of Christ, Penns Creek. In lieu of flowers, donations in Paul's memory may be made to Messiah Village, 100 Mount Allen Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055; the Susquehanna Valley Chorale, P.O. Box 172, Lewisburg, PA 17837; or Emmanuel United Church of Christ, Penns Creek, PA 17862. Private burial was in Penns Creek Union Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Hummel Funeral Home, 574 Hill St., Middleburg. |