Robert Dean “Polar Bear” Keith, 67, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away Monday afternoon, January 17, 2022, at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga.
He was born on Dec. 9, 1954, in Rhea County, the son of the late Hubert and Irene (Wykoff) Keith. Polar Bear was also preceded in death by his brothers, Bill Keith and Donald “Duck” Keith.
Polar Bear lived in Chattanooga for the past 22 years, previously lived in Rhea County, and was a Rhea County High School graduate. He was employed at La-Z-Boy for over 34 years and then at Walden’s Security. He was a member of the Sale Creek Church of God.
He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Lora Jones Keith of Chattanooga; his sons, Nathan (Stephanie) Keith of Sale Creek and Gregory (Christina) Bianchi of Chickamauga, GA; four grandchildren, Cody Keith, Cohen Lowe, Dash Bianchi and Olivia Kennedy; his brother, Ken (Amy) Keith of Dayton Mountain; and his sisters, Darlene Hale of Dayton Mountain, Deb Self of Dayton Mountain and Sherry Olinger of Atlanta, GA.
A Celebration of Life for Polar Bear will be held on Sunday, Jan. 23, at 6:15 p.m. at the Sale Creek Church of God with Pastor Terry Bolton officiating. He will be laid to rest in Morgan Springs Cemetery on Dayton Mountain next to his mother.
Please share your memories and photos of Polar Bear on his online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com.
The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, Tn.