The energetic math teacher Ruth Keeling, came to Normandy in 1949-50, left at the end of 1954-55, returned for 1959-60, then stayed a quarter century before retiring in at the end of 1983-84, her appearance changing very little over that long tenure. She died March 15, 2005. Active in the National Education Association and Missouri State Teachers Association, Mrs. Keeling played an instrumental and fearless role in winning public school teachers significant health and retirement benefits. At the time of her passing she had been a longtime resident of Heritage House, a retirement community at 2800 Olive Street co-owned by MSTA members in the City of St. Louis and NEA members of the St. Louis Suburban Teachers Association. Mrs. Keeling at various times taught in the Junior High and the Senior High. She was known for coming to school early and being in tip-top spirits for her first class. The kids may have been sleepy-eyed but Mrs. Keeling was already rarin' to go. Her classes were fast-paced and her enthusiasm for her subject never wavered. A widow at the time of her death, she left children and grandchildren.