Dr. J. Keith Altig
April 1911 – July 2005
Born the youngest of four brothers, Keith grew up in Colorado and came to California with his family in 1929. He attended the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, (now BIOLA University in La Mirada) graduating in 1932. He married Vivian Force in August of that year. They had three children, Janice McDonald of Bellevue, Washington; Jean Hedrick of Whittier, California; and Steve Altig of Duck Creek Village, Utah.
A strong desire to minister to the spiritual needs of others began when he was a young man. He and his wife developed a music and preaching ministry, traveling throughout California and Arizona. Subsequently he was asked to assume the pastorate of a small church in East Los Angeles.
Keith and Vivian left California for Winona Lake, Indiana, in 1939, where he graduated from Grace Seminary in preparation for Christian ministry. He began his ministry in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and was there until returning to California in 1945 where he assumed the pastorate of the Grace Brethren Church in Whittier.
In 1949 the family left for Brazil and three churches were planted before Keith retired 25 years later. At the age of 65 he completed the work for his doctoral degree in Missions at Grace Seminary West. He has since traveled extensively, while continuing as Pastor Emeritus in Whittier.
In 2001 he joined two older brothers at the Town and Country Manor in Santa Ana where he died at the age of 94. At the time of his death he had completed 74 years of faithful ministry in God’s service.
Keith is survived by his twin brother, Kenneth Altig, his three children, eight grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren. His quick wit and charming ways will be greatly missed.
Services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 PM, July 31, at Town and Country Manor, 555 E. Memory Lane in Santa Ana.