Ralph Thomas "Tom" Keene, 88, of Clinton, passed away Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Presbyterian Home for CNY after a lengthy illness. Tom was born September 13, 1921 in Dover, New Jersey, the son of Clarence and Marion (Brown) Keene. He was raised and educated in Dover and after graduating from Dover High School, he attended the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics, while working for Curtiss Wright. Tom served his country with the US Navy during World War II, seeing action in the Pacific Theater. While assigned to the USS Enterprise, his Air Group, Carrier Aircraft Squadron Unit 140, was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation Award. On July 8, 1945, Tom married Lilly Hofmann. He worked as a civilian aircraft mechanic at Stewart Air Force Base, Newburgh, NY. While at Stewart AFB, Tom was a member of the Smallwood Fire Dept. and the Civil Air Patrol. He later joined the US Air Force Reserves, where he achieved the rank of Master Sergeant, deploying with the 904th Airlift Group to Lakenheath, England during the Pueblo Crisis. From 1970 to 1979, Tom worked for Command Airways in Poughkeepsie, NY. In 1980, he joined Empire Airlines at the Oneida County Airport in Oriskany, NY, eventually retiring from US Air in 1991 as Director of Maintenance Training. Tom was a member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Utica, where he served on the property committee. He was also a member and past president (1992-93) of Clinton Kiwanis. Also after retiring from US Air, Tom became a member of the Clinton Historic Preservation Committee and the Clinton Historic Society. Through much of his life, Tom had a love of aircraft, flying, anything mechanical, animals, and ketchup. He loved to fix things, including rebuilding small aircraft in his garage. Tom also liked to cook "SOS", nicely known as chipped beef on toast and pancakes that were referred to as "collision mats". Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Lilly Keene, Clinton; his children, Christine (& John) Needham of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Richard (& Elaine) Keene, Lt. Col. US Army ret., of Honeoye, NY, Jane Victoria "Vikki" (& Clare) Thiem, of Clinton, NY; his granddaughters, Maryann (& Daniel) Keene-Cronise of Rush, NY, and Ellen (& Mark Dreibelbis) Keene, of Ithaca, NY; and one great grandson, Galen Keene-Cronise. Mr. Keene's funeral will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 11:00 am at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Utica. Interment with military honors will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Clinton. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Heintz Funeral Home, 10 East Park Row, Clinton on Wednesday evening from 4 - 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may donate to Our Saviour Lutheran Church or to the Presbyterian Home for CNY in Tom's memory.