KEITH DUANE WARDRUP

1968-2019

Keith Duane Wardrup passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2019. He was born on July 30, 1968 as the only son of Don and Freeda Wardrup, and little brother to sisters Kathy and Donna. Growing up Keith loved being active in band and tennis. Playing the trombone and serving as codrum major were highlights of his years at Corsicana High School. Keith went on to Navarro College where he continued his love for band. He studied at Sam Houston State University and received his Bachelor of Education at Stephen F. Austin University and his Masters of Educational Leadership at LeTourneau University.

Keith dedicated his professional life to elementary education. His career began at Cathedral Christian School in Beaumont, where his proudest moments were the Christmas and Easter pageants he organized to allow students to demonstrate the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He then moved to Montgomery County and began teaching at The Woodlands Christian Academy where he won Teacher of the Year in 2004. For the last 12 years he has been a fourth-grade teacher at Oak Ridge Elementary School in Conroe ISD. In 2013 Keith was again named Teacher of the Year and in 2018 the Humanitarian of the Year.

His legacy is the countless students who developed a love for science because of Mr. Wardrup’s entertaining and educational experiments. He empowered his students to believe they were loved, respected, and the reason he was there each day. He will forever be remembered for his sense of humor, funny faces, his smile, and his garden.

Eight years ago, his passion for science moved outdoors when he created the Discovery Park Garden at Oak Ridge Elementary. Keith designed, planted, and cultivated a myriad of vegetables, flowers, trees, and a fruit orchard to bring science to life for the students and faculty at Oak Ridge. On any given day including the weekend you could find Mr. Wardrup nurturing his garden. It was his dream for ORE Discovery Park to be a spring board for a place in Conroe ISD where students and teachers could come and experience science, math, and nature first hand.

Keith is preceded in death by his loving parents and his sister Kathy Parker. He is survived by his sister Donna Barton of Corsicana; his Aunt Joan Fair of Dallas; nieces Nikki Barton, Heather White and Beth Kennedy; and the love of his life Alicia Garza of Houston along with the numerous friends and students who were honored to have known Keith.

A celebration of life service will take place Saturday, February 16th at 11am at The Chapel in The Woods, The Woodlands Church, One Fellowship Drive, The Woodlands, 77384. In lieu of flowers please make donations to The Oak Ridge Elementary Discovery Park, 19675 I-45 South, Conroe, TX 77385.