Keith Rucker Haygood

Keith Rucker Haygood

11/11/1938 - 05/27/2021

Keith was born in Gastonia, North Carolina to Robert Crisler Haygood and Joanna Rucker Haygood. Both of Keith’s parents were native Georgians and protestant Christians.

While growing up in Gastonia Keith attended St. Michael Catholic School, Wray Junior High School, and Ashley High School. He was a member of the Ashley High class of 1956. In 1960 Keith graduated from Belmont Abbey in Belmont, North Carolina with a degree in banking and business. While at Belmont Abbey he became an Oblate of St. Benedict which he remained all of his life. Keith also attended Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina to further study banking and business.

In 1962 Keith married Elizabeth Ann Robinson. They were married for 58 years. After marrying, Keith and Ann moved to South Carolina and later to Florida.

During his career, Keith was the sales manager for the Gastonia Upholstery Company,

As well as working for the Timken Company of Gaffney, South Carolina. Keith also owned and operated his own Snap-On Tools dealership.

Raising Basset Hounds to show became a large part of Keith and Ann’s lives in South Carolina. In addition to raising champion dogs, Keith also became an AKC dog show judge as well as an exhibiter.

Keith was a member of several lineage societies including the Sons of the American Revolution, the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Huguenot Society. Keith served as state president of the Huguenot Society.

Keith was a member of St. Andrew’s Antiochian Orthodox Church and served as a member of the vestry there. In 2001 Keith became godfather to George Thomas Knecht. In 2003 he became acting godfather to Daniel Phillip Knecht. Being “Bobo” to these boys was an important part of the last twenty years of Keith’s life.

After suffering several small strokes and a heart attack in 2019, Keith fell asleep in the Lord on May 27, 2021, after receiving the Last Rites administered by The Very Reverend Father Cassian Dunlop.

In addition to his loving wife and devoted godsons, Keith is survived by a sister, Doris Haygood Hancock, of Gastonia, and numerous nieces and nephews.