Robert Raymond Keegan's Obituary
Robert Raymond Keegan, also known as Bob Keegan, Dad, Grandad, and Great Grandad, passed away peacefully at the age of 97 on June 21, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Born in Lawton, Oklahoma to Thomas Raymond Keegan and Edith Julia (Tedford) Keegan on January 18, 1928, he was the youngest of four children.
After studying electrical engineering at Oklahoma State University, Bob joined the army and was stationed at Fort Dix in New Jersey during the Korean War where he met Pauline Domzal from Red Bank, New Jersey at a USO Dance. After some effort and many phone calls, he persuaded her to go on a date with him. He was reassigned to Ft. Benning, GA and then to Japan. They continued to write to each other until he returned stateside. Initially, he went back to Oklahoma to work on a law degree; soon realizing that he missed Pauline too much, he wrote again to ask if she was interested and available if he decided to move to New York to finish his degree at NYU. She was and he did; they were married on November 20, 1954. They had six children together and were married for over 60 years, until Pauline’s death in 2018.
Bob Keegan finished his law degree specializing in patents and trademarks, joined Darby and Darby Law Firm, at that time located in the Chrysler Building and they lived in a New York City Brownstone apartment. Bob and Pauline later bought a house in Scarsdale, New York and Bob commuted to NYC each day. During his career as a patent attorney, he worked with interesting inventors from around the world, and had the privilege of arguing one of his cases to the Supreme Court. One of Bob’s most notable clients was Gordon Gould and the twenty year battle to patent his invention of the laser.
In 1973, after several years of consideration and planning, Bob and Pauline took their family of six children and moved to Arkansas, where Bob became the first resident patent attorney in the Northwest Arkansas area. Bob and Pauline were committed to raising their six children and being involved in the things that mattered to each of them: the importance of family, their church community, and the Razorbacks. Bob loved baseball and was an avid fan of the Razorbacks baseball team, rarely missing a game either at the stadium, or on the tv or radio. Bob and Pauline also attended many Razorback basketball games together and enjoyed attending football games as well. Bob and Pauline firmly believed in a good Catholic school education and helped to establish the endowment fund at St Joseph Catholic School in Fayetteville.
Bob Keegan is survived by his six children: Daria Winker (Ronald) of St. Louis, Missouri; Clair McCormick (Robert) of San Antonio, Texas; Brice Keegan (Jean) of Annapolis, Maryland; Martha Fleury (John - deceased) of Bethesda, Maryland; Grace Johnson of Fayetteville, Matthew Keegan (Arieta) of Fayetteville; twenty-three grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at 1:30 PM on Friday, June 27, 2025, at St Joseph Catholic Church, 1722 N. Starr Dr., Fayetteville, AR 72701. Rosary is at 2:30 PM and a Funeral Mass will begin at 3:00 PM followed by interment at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Fayetteville. All are invited to join us at the reception afterwards at the Lodge at Butterfield Trail Village, 1923 East Joyce Blvd, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703.
The family has designated St Joseph Catholic School for memorial contributions in lieu of flowers, St Joseph Catholic School, 1722 N. Starr Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Here is the direct link for Memorial Gifts:
https://www.osvhub.com/sjfay/giving/funds/memorial-gift-online
To sign the online guest book, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com
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