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(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— Keith Wade Dedeaux was born August 21, 1951, in Pasadena, California. He was the youngest of six children born to Carl and Vitelsia Dedeaux. Keith began school in Pasadena attending Grover Cleveland School. His father constructed a home for the family in Good Hope, California and the family moved from Pasadena in 1960. Keith attended Perris Elementary School. He also attended Perris Junior High School and Perris High School where he enjoyed playing the drums and participated in band and running track. It was through these activities that he made lifelong friendships with Carl Collins and the late Willie Collins. He was preceded in death by his parents.
After high school, following in the trade of his father, Keith completed his apprenticeship as an equipment operator in the Operating Engineers, Local 12 in 1979. He had a tremendous work ethic operating large earth grader for several housing tracts, commercial, industrial and institutional projects. Until health issues deterred him from labor, he worked as a crane operator on 40-ton and 90-ton cranes for Hill Crane Rental in Bloomington, California. He enjoyed pointing out buildings and projects he had worked on throughout Southern California.
In March 1982, Keith joined Park Avenue Baptist Church and was baptized by Rev. L.B. Moss. He was a member of the Voices in Christ Young Adult Choir and delighted in serving as an usher. He also assisted David Ross with the planning of the parking lot at the church property on Martin Luther King Boulevard.
He married Barbara Collins in September 1982 and lovingly took on the duties of father to Sadiki Nezart. Even though he worked many long hours, leaving for work during the wee hours of the morning, he made time to attend football and basketball practices and games for Sadiki from Riverside Junior Tackle and through college at Northridge University. His involvement only began again with the arrival of Vitelsia to complete the family. She was involved in a few sports until she found her passion in dance. Keith then became a back-stage dad, moving props and sometimes even dancing a step or two to stretch breaks while dancers made costume changes. Watching Vitelsia perform on stage has been the highlight of his life.
Keith leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Barbara; children, Sadiki (Maria) and Vitelsia; grandchildren, Derek, Aliah, Auset and Shakira; brothers, Carl of Los Angeles, CA, Ralph (Nancy) of Rio Rancho, NM, Rudy (Judy) Santa Maria, CA and Gerald (Helene) Riverside, CA; sister, Audrey of Los Angeles, CA; in-laws, Cecelia Collins of Riverside, CA, Joseph Hester (Jacklyn) of Riverside, CA, Carl Collins, San Jacinto, CA, Sharon Collins of Lithonia GA, Christopher Collins (Brenda) of Victorville, Linda Collins of Moreno Valley CA and Eric Collins (Celia) of Chino, CA; aunts, Barbara Keel of Los Angeles, CA and Pearl Haggins of Pasadena, CA; godchildren, Charles Grays III and Ashton Grays; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
