Kenneth Martin Koester

LT. COL. Kenneth Martin Koester, retired Army veteran, was called to join the Lord's Army on March 11, 2012. Col. Koester was born November 13, 1928 in a house on Spring Street, Charleston, S.C. His parents were the late Thomas Frederick Koester and Lilly Elizabeth Todd Koester. He attended local public schools and graduated from The High School of Charleston. During his school years Ken was the night manager of the Riviera Theater. There he met his first wife, Billie Jean Simms Koester. They were married April 23, 1949. After 51 years of marriage, Billie Jean Koester passed away January 16, 2001.

The Requiem Mass will be held at The Church of The Holy Communion, Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. Interment with military honors, Bethany Cemetery. The family will receive friends in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL Wednesday, March 14, 2012 between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.

In Nov. 1951 Ken entered military service after completing OCSW and was commissioned 2nd Lt. Army. Soon thereafter he saw action in Korea. During Ken's 28 years of service he had many and varied assignments. He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College. In 1956-1959 Ken was a Tank Company Commander in Munich, Germany. He served several tours at Fort Knox, Kentucky. During one of these tours he was assigned as The Armor School Operations Officer. While at Ft. Knox he served as a member of the Dependents School Board. In 1961 Ken attended the Army Language School to study the Thai language. Following graduation he was stationed in Thailand as an interpreter for his army detachment. Ken was stationed in Vietnam in 1967 – 1968 during the Tet Offensive. Other locations of service included Ft. Rucker, Alabama and Ft. McPherson, Georgia. He was a Battalion Commander at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. Ken's next assignment was at the Pentagon in the Office of the Chief of Staff for Intelligence. Those were exciting times during the Cold War where Ken was responsible for tracking Soviet ground weapons systems. Lt. Col. Koester completed his military service with an assignment to the Army's Operational Tests and Evaluation Agency. His military decorations include three awards of the Legion of Merit.

Following his retirement from the army Ken enjoyed a successful 18 year career with Westvaco Development Corporation. He retired as V.P. of Sales.

Upon retiring to Charleston, Ken rejoined The Church of the Holy Communion where he had grown up prior to his military career. Ken was very active in his church serving as a charter member of the Flower Guild, vestryman and Jr. Warden. He was a member of the Rotary club for over 50 years serving for many years as secretary. He was a member of the American Legion and a life long member of the Military Officers Association.

After his retirement from Westvaco, Ken enjoyed many travels at home and abroad. He especially enjoyed traveling to Thailand. After several trips, Ken met his wife Pamonthawan Ounnorast. Ken and Pam were married in Thailand in a Buddhist ceremony on July 7, 2008. On Feb. 28, 2009 they were married in The Church of the Holy Communion.

Ken is survived by his wife, Pam; a son Kenneth Martin Koester, Jr. of Annapolis, Maryland; a daughter, Kathy Jean Koester of Plattsburgh, New York; stepdaughters, Khajeebhan Namthong of Washington, DC and Thanunkhan Namthong of Bangkok, Thailand; and a step-grandson, Chris. He is also survived by a sister, Beverly Johnson; and two brothers, Eugene Henry Koester and Alan Edward Koester as well as numerous nieces and nephews who were very supportive during his illness and passing.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Church of the Holy Communion Endowment Fund, 218 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29403.