Keith Emmet Short, 79, of Archbold, Ohio, passed away Friday, April 15, 2016, surrounded by his wife and daughters, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Keith, son of Midge and Emmet, was born December 6, 1936, in Archbold. He was a lifelong resident of Archbold and graduated from Archbold High School in 1954. He served two years in the U. S. Army with duties in Germany.

Keith co-owned Short Stockyards in Stryker with his father. They also bred and raced standardbred pacers.

In his retirement, Keith was a bus driver for the Archbold Area Schools where he particularly enjoyed his kindergarten route and his trips with various athletic teams and the marching band.

Keith spent many years as a member of the Archbold Park Board, and he was very involved with the development of the Memorial Park fields. Keith was especially proud of his work to bring a girls' summer softball program to the village of Archbold in the late 1970s.

Keith is preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife of almost 55 years, Cherie, daughters Kelly Tesar (Chuck) of Strongsville, Ohio, and Erin Short (Renee Davis) of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, sister Bonnie Finken of Graham, Texas, two grandchildren and one great grandson.

The family will host a Coffee and Conversation at the Archbold United Methodist Church from 2 – 4 on Saturday, April 23. Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Archbold High School Athletic Department, the Archbold High School Music Department or Community Health Partners Defiance Area Hospice. The family requests donations be sent to Short Funeral Home c/o Keith Short family, PO Box 36, Archbold, Ohio 43502.