GOSHEN - Keith L. Besson, 70, of 1614 Harvest Lane, Goshen, died at 8:20 p.m. Dec. 18, 2009, in Elkhart General Hospital.
He was born Oct. 18, 1939, in Warsaw, to William Earl and Leona Leininger Besson. On Dec. 12, 1964, in Scottsville, Ky., he married Lois Vaughan, who survives.
He lived in Nappanee for 30 years before moving to Goshen two years ago. He retired from Fairmont Home in 2004 as an internal auditor. He formerly served as a missionary in Zambia, Africa, for 12 years. He graduated from Mentone High School in 1962, and David Lipscomb College. He was an elder at Goshen Church of Christ and was a member of Elkhart County Ostomy Association. He helped establish Namwianga Christian School in Zambia.
Also surviving are a daughter, Dr. Sarah (and spouse Dr. Russell) Palmer, Carmel; a son, Dr. Stephen (and spouse Kelly) Besson, Cynthiana, Ky.; seven grandchildren: Abby, Sarah Ruth and Phoebe Besson and Rachel, Annie, Emily and Elizabeth Palmer; and a sister, Linda (and spouse William) Cochran, Mentone. He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, Lela Besson.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, 1911 S. Main St., Goshen, officiated by Brad Price of Goshen Church of Christ. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mentone Cemetery.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
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Memorials to Malawi Mission Fund, c/o Crieve Hall Church of Christ, 4806 Trousdale Drive, Nashville, TN or Vaughan-Whitaker Scholarship, c/o Freed-Hardemen University, Henderson, TN 38340.
Condolences may be sent to yoderculpfuneralhome.com
