Julian Eugene Keil, Dr. of Public Health, 89, of Charleston, South Carolina, husband of Barbara Willis Keil entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community. His Funeral Service will be held Sunday, January 24, 2016, in St. Johannes Lutheran Church, where he and Barbara married 67 years ago, 48 Hasell Street at 2:00 p.m. Interment, Bethany Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.
Julian was born October 30, 1926, in Charleston, South Carolina, son of George Christopher Keil and Julia Bendt Keil. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Clemson University and a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He worked for W.R. Grace and Company for 18 years, USC's School of Public Health for 6 years and MUSC for more than 25 years as an Epidemiologist before he retired. In 1989, he was elected as a Fellow of American College of Cardiology. He was a member of the International Epidemiological Society. He was published in The New England Journal of Medicine and The American Journal of Epidemiology. He devoted much of his career to cardiovascular research at MUSC. Julian served as co-principal investigator and co-director of the Charleston Heart Study. He was a founding member of Lutheran Social Services and was on the board of Lutheran Homes of SC. He was on the Franke Home's Board of Trustees and contributed to the Keil Health Care Center. He was a member of SCANA's Investor's Association. He was a lifelong member of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church until it closed and later became a member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. Additionally, Julian was an active member of the German Friendly Society, Deutscher Bruderliche Bund, the Exchange Club of Charleston, and the Charleston Library Society.
In addition to his wife of 67 years, Barbara, he is survived by his three children: Barbara K. Burgis (Donald), Christopher Augustus Keil (Dianne), and Jean Keil, all of Mt. Pleasant, SC. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Michael Blalock, Camille Keil Berge (Chris), Emily Rigsby and three great grandchildren: Susana, Noah, and Luke. He was predeceased by his brother, George Henry Keil and his grandson, Christopher William Keil.
Memorials may be made to the Employee Appreciation Fund at Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community, One Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412 or to Respite Care Charleston, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 405 King St., Charleston, SC 29403.