Ada Florence Kessler, 86, of Winona Lake met her Saviour at 2:25 p.m., June 14, 2010 in Grace Village Health Care, Winona Lake.
Ada was born on February 9, 1924 in Sangamon County, Illinois, the seventh of eleven children of the late Gussie Earl and Emma Ruth (Danks) Edwards.
Ada married Robert L. Kessler on August 21, 1943.
Early in her marriage, as a young wartime bride to Robert, who was deployed on active duty in the Navy, Ada graduated from beauty school and worked as a beauty operator until she followed God's call, along with her husband, to full-time Christian ministry, first as a rural missionary and Bible story teacher to young children in the Ozarks from 1953-59, later as head cook for a Christian camp directed by her husband in Springfield, Missouri, from 1960-63, and lastly, as a pastor's wife of two churches, the Community Church of Houstonia, Missouri, from 1963-87 and the Community Church of Sedalia, Missouri, from 1968-2003. In 2004 she and her husband moved to Winona Lake to live close to family.
Her life was a blessing to her family and all who knew her, as she freely showed love to anyone who came across her path. She was known to be first to offer a meal and a listening ear to anyone in need. Her home was always open for missionaries and friends passing through. She loved to entertain and was known for gift of gracious hospitality.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 66 years, the Reverend Robert Kessler of Winona Lake, Indiana; by her two sons: James (and spouse Susanne) Kessler of Winona Lake, Indiana and Timothy (and spouse Paula) Kessler of Kansas City, Missouri; by her six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren: Kimberly (and spouse Chris and children Lynae, Kyle, Whitney, and Wyatt) Dawson of Warsaw, Indiana; Sarah (and spouse Christian and children Claudia, Kendall, and Cohen) McCray of Winona Lake, Indiana; Jennifer (and spouse Jarrod and daughter Jada) Lovette of Winona Lake, Indiana; Janelle (and spouse Doug) Meyer of Winona Lake, Indiana; Travis (and spouse Jennifer and children Isabella and Daniel) Kessler of Liberty, Missouri; Heath (and spouse Carolyn and son Caiden) McCurdy of Aiken, South Carolina; by her sister Gladys Shipman of Loami, Illinois; by her two brothers: Dean Edwards of Rochester, Illinois and Franklin (and spouse Celeste) Edwards of Rantoul, Illinois; and by her brother-in-law Loren (Bud) Dodd of Loami, Illinois.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers: John, Adrian, and Earl Charles Edwards; and by her four sisters: Thelma Funderburk, Elsie Grant, Beulah Edwards, and Fern Dodd.
Visitation: 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, in Winona Lake.
Memorial Service: 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, in Winona Lake, officiated by Pastor Bruce Barlow, assisted by Pastor Tom Miller.
Ada was born on February 9, 1924 in Sangamon County, Illinois, the seventh of eleven children of the late Gussie Earl and Emma Ruth (Danks) Edwards.
Ada married Robert L. Kessler on August 21, 1943.
Early in her marriage, as a young wartime bride to Robert, who was deployed on active duty in the Navy, Ada graduated from beauty school and worked as a beauty operator until she followed God's call, along with her husband, to full-time Christian ministry, first as a rural missionary and Bible story teacher to young children in the Ozarks from 1953-59, later as head cook for a Christian camp directed by her husband in Springfield, Missouri, from 1960-63, and lastly, as a pastor's wife of two churches, the Community Church of Houstonia, Missouri, from 1963-87 and the Community Church of Sedalia, Missouri, from 1968-2003. In 2004 she and her husband moved to Winona Lake to live close to family.
Her life was a blessing to her family and all who knew her, as she freely showed love to anyone who came across her path. She was known to be first to offer a meal and a listening ear to anyone in need. Her home was always open for missionaries and friends passing through. She loved to entertain and was known for gift of gracious hospitality.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 66 years, the Reverend Robert Kessler of Winona Lake, Indiana; by her two sons: James (and spouse Susanne) Kessler of Winona Lake, Indiana and Timothy (and spouse Paula) Kessler of Kansas City, Missouri; by her six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren: Kimberly (and spouse Chris and children Lynae, Kyle, Whitney, and Wyatt) Dawson of Warsaw, Indiana; Sarah (and spouse Christian and children Claudia, Kendall, and Cohen) McCray of Winona Lake, Indiana; Jennifer (and spouse Jarrod and daughter Jada) Lovette of Winona Lake, Indiana; Janelle (and spouse Doug) Meyer of Winona Lake, Indiana; Travis (and spouse Jennifer and children Isabella and Daniel) Kessler of Liberty, Missouri; Heath (and spouse Carolyn and son Caiden) McCurdy of Aiken, South Carolina; by her sister Gladys Shipman of Loami, Illinois; by her two brothers: Dean Edwards of Rochester, Illinois and Franklin (and spouse Celeste) Edwards of Rantoul, Illinois; and by her brother-in-law Loren (Bud) Dodd of Loami, Illinois.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers: John, Adrian, and Earl Charles Edwards; and by her four sisters: Thelma Funderburk, Elsie Grant, Beulah Edwards, and Fern Dodd.
Visitation: 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, in Winona Lake.
Memorial Service: 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, in Winona Lake, officiated by Pastor Bruce Barlow, assisted by Pastor Tom Miller.
Ada Florence Kessler, 86, of Winona Lake met her Saviour at 2:25 p.m., June 14, 2010 in Grace Village Health Care, Winona Lake.
Ada was born on February 9, 1924 in Sangamon County, Illinois, the seventh of eleven children of the late Gussie Earl and Emma Ruth (Danks) Edwards.
Ada married Robert L. Kessler on August 21, 1943.
Early in her marriage, as a young wartime bride to Robert, who was deployed on active duty in the Navy, Ada graduated from beauty school and worked as a beauty operator until she followed God's call, along with her husband, to full-time Christian ministry, first as a rural missionary and Bible story teacher to young children in the Ozarks from 1953-59, later as head cook for a Christian camp directed by her husband in Springfield, Missouri, from 1960-63, and lastly, as a pastor's wife of two churches, the Community Church of Houstonia, Missouri, from 1963-87 and the Community Church of Sedalia, Missouri, from 1968-2003. In 2004 she and her husband moved to Winona Lake to live close to family.
Her life was a blessing to her family and all who knew her, as she freely showed love to anyone who came across her path. She was known to be first to offer a meal and a listening ear to anyone in need. Her home was always open for missionaries and friends passing through. She loved to entertain and was known for gift of gracious hospitality.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 66 years, the Reverend Robert Kessler of Winona Lake, Indiana; by her two sons: James (and spouse Susanne) Kessler of Winona Lake, Indiana and Timothy (and spouse Paula) Kessler of Kansas City, Missouri; by her six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren: Kimberly (and spouse Chris and children Lynae, Kyle, Whitney, and Wyatt) Dawson of Warsaw, Indiana; Sarah (and spouse Christian and children Claudia, Kendall, and Cohen) McCray of Winona Lake, Indiana; Jennifer (and spouse Jarrod and daughter Jada) Lovette of Winona Lake, Indiana; Janelle (and spouse Doug) Meyer of Winona Lake, Indiana; Travis (and spouse Jennifer and children Isabella and Daniel) Kessler of Liberty, Missouri; Heath (and spouse Carolyn and son Caiden) McCurdy of Aiken, South Carolina; by her sister Gladys Shipman of Loami, Illinois; by her two brothers: Dean Edwards of Rochester, Illinois and Franklin (and spouse Celeste) Edwards of Rantoul, Illinois; and by her brother-in-law Loren (Bud) Dodd of Loami, Illinois.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers: John, Adrian, and Earl Charles Edwards; and by her four sisters: Thelma Funderburk, Elsie Grant, Beulah Edwards, and Fern Dodd.
Visitation: 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, in Winona Lake.
Memorial Service: 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, in Winona Lake, officiated by Pastor Bruce Barlow, assisted by Pastor Tom Miller.
Ada was born on February 9, 1924 in Sangamon County, Illinois, the seventh of eleven children of the late Gussie Earl and Emma Ruth (Danks) Edwards.
Ada married Robert L. Kessler on August 21, 1943.
Early in her marriage, as a young wartime bride to Robert, who was deployed on active duty in the Navy, Ada graduated from beauty school and worked as a beauty operator until she followed God's call, along with her husband, to full-time Christian ministry, first as a rural missionary and Bible story teacher to young children in the Ozarks from 1953-59, later as head cook for a Christian camp directed by her husband in Springfield, Missouri, from 1960-63, and lastly, as a pastor's wife of two churches, the Community Church of Houstonia, Missouri, from 1963-87 and the Community Church of Sedalia, Missouri, from 1968-2003. In 2004 she and her husband moved to Winona Lake to live close to family.
Her life was a blessing to her family and all who knew her, as she freely showed love to anyone who came across her path. She was known to be first to offer a meal and a listening ear to anyone in need. Her home was always open for missionaries and friends passing through. She loved to entertain and was known for gift of gracious hospitality.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 66 years, the Reverend Robert Kessler of Winona Lake, Indiana; by her two sons: James (and spouse Susanne) Kessler of Winona Lake, Indiana and Timothy (and spouse Paula) Kessler of Kansas City, Missouri; by her six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren: Kimberly (and spouse Chris and children Lynae, Kyle, Whitney, and Wyatt) Dawson of Warsaw, Indiana; Sarah (and spouse Christian and children Claudia, Kendall, and Cohen) McCray of Winona Lake, Indiana; Jennifer (and spouse Jarrod and daughter Jada) Lovette of Winona Lake, Indiana; Janelle (and spouse Doug) Meyer of Winona Lake, Indiana; Travis (and spouse Jennifer and children Isabella and Daniel) Kessler of Liberty, Missouri; Heath (and spouse Carolyn and son Caiden) McCurdy of Aiken, South Carolina; by her sister Gladys Shipman of Loami, Illinois; by her two brothers: Dean Edwards of Rochester, Illinois and Franklin (and spouse Celeste) Edwards of Rantoul, Illinois; and by her brother-in-law Loren (Bud) Dodd of Loami, Illinois.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers: John, Adrian, and Earl Charles Edwards; and by her four sisters: Thelma Funderburk, Elsie Grant, Beulah Edwards, and Fern Dodd.
Visitation: 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, in Winona Lake.
Memorial Service: 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, in Winona Lake, officiated by Pastor Bruce Barlow, assisted by Pastor Tom Miller.
Inscription
Front side of marker:
MARRIED AUG. 21, 1943
Back side of marker:
OUR SONS
JAMES CHARLES
DEC. 21, 1948
TIMOTHY EARL
DEC. 11, 1953
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