Raymond Amandus Kessler

Raymond Amandus Kessler, Jr., 92, of Charleston passed away Saturday, May 2, 2015.

His funeral service will be held Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in St. Philip's Church. He will be buried next to his son Kirk in the churchyard. The family will receive friends Monday, May 4, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at J. HENRY STUHR INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL. Everyone is invited to a reception by the family in the Parish Hall immediately following the interment.

Ray was the son of Raymond Amandus Kessler and Lillian Pundt Kessler, and was born in Charleston on November 29, 1922. He was a graduate of Porter Military Academy in 1939. He graduated from The Citadel in 1943 and majored in Civil Engineering. In his junior year he was a member of the Bond Volunteers. His senior year he was in the Summerall Guards, a silent precision drill platoon, and also Captain of India Company. After graduation in 1943 he served as lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers for the Army of the United States, and was stationed in the China - Burma - India Theater. After World War II he was active in the Army Reserve. He was a graduate of the US Army Reserve Command and General Staff School in 1964, and subsequently taught this course at the Army Reserve School for five years. He retired in 1976 with the rank of Colonel and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. In his professional career he taught in the Civil Engineering Department at The Citadel, and then he became Design Division engineer of the DuPont Plant in Camden, SC. He served as head of the Engineering Division at the Naval Ammunition Depot, Macon, GA. He later transferred with the Navy to the Naval Weapons Station in Charleston and retired after 20 years of service. He was a member of St. Philip's Church, the Civil Engineers Club of Charleston, the Carolina Yacht Club, past president of the St. Andrew's Society of Charleston, a life-long member of The Citadel Alumni Association, and many others.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Lenora Spell Kessler; a son, Dr. Raymond Amandus Kessler, III and his wife, Lois; three grandsons, Raymond Amandus Kessler, IV, Stuart Andrew Kessler and James Kirk Sheridan Kessler. He was predeceased by his parents and son, Kirk Sheridan Kessler.

Memorials may be made to; The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409, the Kirk Sheridan Kessler Memorial Fund, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424, Kirk Sheridan Kessler Memorial Fund, Porter-Gaud School, 300 Albemarle Rd., Charleston, SC 29407 or to St. Philip's Church, 142 Church St., Charleston, SC 29401.