William Leo “Bill” Kessler, Jr.
William Leo “Bill” Kessler, Jr., age 73, went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday October 4, 2017 at OhioHealth Shelby Hospital.
Bill was born January 26, 1944 in Buck, West Virginia the son of the late William Leo Sr. and Julia Frances (Harvey) Kessler. He was a 1962 graduate of Forest Hill High School in Forest Hill, West Virginia and was among twelve in the graduating class. Bill enjoyed attending his high school reunions; he was the first one to be called home.
Bill was a Vietnam War Veteran of the United States Army. He served his country from 1965-1967 in Central Operations-Communication stationed in Saigon.
Bill was a blue-collar worker all of his working career. He worked for Fairbank Scales for 25 years as a truck scales sales and repair man. He was a substitute bus driver for Crestview Local Schools, Mansfield City Schools and Richland Newhope-Richland Co. Bd of DD. He retired from AK Steel with 15 years of service. Bill enjoyed going arrowhead hunting, fishing, gardening, driving his Kubota tractor, and sitting in his garage. He was a quiet man who had quite the sense of humor. He loved to tell a joke or “get Starr fusing at him.” He was never seen without Redman Chewing Tobacco in his mouth. Bill had a very caring heart who loved God, his wife, and his two children & son in law.
Bill is survived by his wife, Starr Lynn (Plumley) Kessler, who he married on July 4, 1975 at Indian Mills, West Virginia; two children: Dawn Renea (Allen) Trosper of Shelby, OH and Matthew Allen Kessler of Sandstone, WV; three sisters: Ramona (Bill) Mitchell of Forest Hill, WV, Betty (Stanley) Farley of Poland, OH and Madline Doring of Trinity, TX.; one sister-in-law: Sandra (Wayne-whom he viewed as a brother) Gillespie of Ballard, WV; brother in law: Timothy Plumley of Hinton, WV; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great -great nieces and great -great nephews who called him Uncle Bunckle or Uncle “B”.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; his in-laws: Orville & Lyda Plumley; angel grandson: Eli Scott Trosper; his grandparents; and brother-in-law: Bart Doring.
Family and friends are welcome on Friday, October 6, 2017 from 6-8 PM at the Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 11:30 AM at the funeral home with Pastor Dan Richter, Pastor of Community Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Ganges Cemetery with military honors conducted by Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Detail.
Memorial contributions may be made to Community Bible Church-Children’s Department. Care for Bill and his family is being provided by at the Turner Funeral Home in Shelby.
RIP Uncle Bill.❤️
Sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time.
Dear Starr,
God bless you as you adjust after this loss. Your happy memories, family and friends will comfort you.
Starr,
I am so sorry for your loss. I’ll be in touch to see what we as a Church (Community Bible) can do to help. Hugs and prayers.
Starr, Matt, Dawn & Allen, Words can not express how sorry I am for your loss. I have known you and Bill ever since we met at First Baptist Church, Shelby. Matt & Angie will always have memories of the good times they had with Bill and your family. I hope to see you tomorrow and Saturday. If I can do anything just let me know. Love and prayers for all of you.
Starr so sorry for you loss. You are in our prayers during this very difficult time!
Starr and family, so very sorry on the loss of your husband and dad. Heaven gained another angel and you guys will see him again . Love and prayers Deb Sallee
My deepest sympathies to all of you as you have said ‘Good Bye’ to Bill. Memories have been flooding my mind all afternoon as I remember him and so many interesting things about your family. Starr, I recall you telling me that Bill was a senior in high school when you were (I think) in Kindergarten. He waited for you to grow up so that he could marry you!! I am privileged to have known all of you and I pray God’s comfort to surround during this difficult time.
I am so sorry for your loss. May God be with you in this time of sorrow.
Dear Starr and family, I am saddened to hear about Bill. Know I am praying for you and will be thinking of you tomorrow and in the days ahead.
Starr, Dawn and Matt,
I am sorry to hear of your loss, my thoughts are with you at this difficult time.