Natalie Goldberg Keen

Natalie Keen, of Waco, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 29, 2022 at home surrounded by her family, at the age of 98.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 30, at Rodef Sholom Cemetery, South 12th St., in Waco, with Rabbi Ben-Zion Lanxner officiating.

Natalie was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 26, 1924. She grew up in McAlester, Oklahoma, and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Psychology.

She met the love of her life, Norman Keen, by corresponding with him for two years while he served during World War II, and they were married May 18, 1947.

She was civic minded and a leader. She served as president of the Temple Rodef Sholom sisterhood, volunteered at the Waco Heart Clinic and the Historic Waco Foundation. She was on the boards of the Heart Association, Goodwill, and the Waco Symphony Association. She was also president of the Waco women’s symphony council, started the Waco Symphony Youth Council, and organized the first kinder concert in Waco. Natalie was the co-founder of the Waco Art Center and the Waco Hippodrome Theater, and was an active member of the Waco Study Club and the Harston Study Group. She loved traveling, reading, cooking, gardening, and playing bridge and mah-jongg. Natalie traveled the world, but she especially loved vacationing in Aspen every summer.

Natalie was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Keen; her father, Leo Goldberg; and her mother, Anne Weissman Goldberg.

She is survived by her daughters, DeDe Wadler and husband, David Wadler; Barbara Drell and husband, William Drell; and Cindy Perlman and husband, Brett Perlman; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Her family thanks her loving caregivers, Charlene Vinson, Gloria Guerra, Sheri Coleman, Mari Recindus, Marianna Rusa and Elisabeth Miller.

Memorials may be made to Waco Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 1201, Waco, TX 76703 or Planned Parenthood of Waco, 700 West Highway 6, Ste. B Waco, TX 76710.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our "Tribute Wall" at www.WHBfamily.com.