An accomplished pilot with over five decades in flight, Keith wrote this autobiographical reflection detailing meaningful learning experiences from throughout his life and career:

“I attended the Harrisburg public schools, graduating in 1961. I went on to Middlebury College in Vermont, but left to take some time off for travel before my freshman year was complete. In 1963, I started school at the University of Pennsylvania, and that summer, I took a journey by motorcycle from Harrisburg to Mexico City, where I studied at the Universidád de Mexico. I resumed at Penn in the fall, majoring in economics.

"Another interest was developing alongside my academic life. I had learned to fly at the age of fifteen, and had a student pilot license at 16. I worked part-time at the airport in Hershey, PA, cleaning and fueling airplanes. In the summers while in college, I went back to work at Hershey. At eighteen, I earned a commercial pilot's license and a flight instructor's rating, which enabled me to teach private flying lessons and give sight-seeing rides. Between semesters of my junior year at Penn, I decided to take a leave of absence. During this time, I took a job as a flight instructor at a little airport north of Philadelphia. Out of this experience, I decided to pursue a career in aviation.

“Six months later, I accepted a job with Reading Aviation Corporation in Reading, Pennsylvania. This company operated a flight school, flew charter flights, and ran a regional airline. My duties included flight instruction, charter flying, serving initially as a co-pilot and later as a captain on Reading Airlines. During this period, I also joined the Pennsylvania National Guard and began to fulfill my military obligation.

"In late 1967, I was hired by Trans World Airlines. This was the beginning of my thirty-five year career in commercial aviation. During the course of this career, I served as a flight engineer, first officer, and ultimately captain on jet aircraft flying domestically and internationally. I retired from commercial flying in 2003, as mandated by the FAA.”

A great listener and storyteller, Keith was loved in his family and community for his unique spirit and warm presence. He could be counted on to offer a hug and a laugh in greeting, with the encouraging reminder, “five hugs for maintenance, twenty for growth!” Keith appreciated finding good use in all things, and was not one to throw away an item he found to be “perfectly good” - and most items fit this qualification. When not at 30,000 feet, Keith was an avid cyclist, found joy at Pine Grove Furnace & Marsh Creek State Parks, spent hours sailing, scuba diving and at the YMCA, enjoyed travel both nationally and internationally, and joined close friends “The Thirsty Philosophers” for drinks and great conversation on Wednesday nights in and around Phoenixville for years.

Keith was a gentle and devoted father and grandfather who placed his family at the center of his life, raising all of his children with compassion, patience, remarkable listening, and in a spirit of steadfast friendship. The son of Frank E. Kreider, Jr. and Jane E. Neiding, along with step-mother Irene Kreider, Keith Bennet Kreider is survived by two daughters, Alison and Mika; three sons, Allen, Nicholas, and Jonathan; grandchildren, Elizabeth Ann, Alaina, Christopher, and Matthew; sister Karen Sherwood and her children, Danica and Emi; daughters-in-law Erin and Crystal; cousins Richard, Charles, and Helen and their families; and a wide circle of extended family and friends.

Following his wishes, Keith’s body was donated to the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, to further research and education. He died in his beautiful home among family, friends, and loved ones on the morning of January 31, 2021.