Obit from jchswv.org
Ella Dee Kessel Caperton (February 26, 1943 - September 1, 2000) was a First Lady of West Virginia and Miss West Virginia. She was the wife of former West Virginia Governor William Gaston Caperton III, and the daughter of the late Jackson County Circuit Court Judge and West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Oliver D. and Katharyn Hartman Kessel. A gratuated of Ripley High School in 1960, she held a degree in music from West Virginia University, a master's degree in education from West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. She was Miss West Virginia 1964 and the second runner up in the Miss America pagent. She married Caperton in 1965. Two sons were born of the marriage, William Gaston Caperton IV, and John Kessel Caperton. After working as an interior decorator, studing classical music, and learing how to fly an airplane, in 1986 Kessel Caperton was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates for a two year term. She did not seek relection in 1988, in order to campaign statewide for Caperton's campaign for governor. After becoming First Lady in 1989, she became the first First Lady of West Virginia to have her own office in the State Capitol. As First Lady, she focused on education, children and women's issues. After divorcing Caperton in 1990, she created national headlines when she announced her candidacy for State Treasurer of West Virginia that year. After losing the Treasurer's race, she moved to France, where she operated a small hotel in Saint-Remy. She died in France on September 1, 2000, age 57. In addition to her sons she is survived by two sisters, Elaine Stone and Sandra Rowley
Contributor: FRAGGLEROCK66 (47129937) •
Ella Dee Kessel Caperton (February 26, 1943 - September 1, 2000) was a First Lady of West Virginia and Miss West Virginia. She was the wife of former West Virginia Governor William Gaston Caperton III, and the daughter of the late Jackson County Circuit Court Judge and West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Oliver D. and Katharyn Hartman Kessel. A gratuated of Ripley High School in 1960, she held a degree in music from West Virginia University, a master's degree in education from West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. She was Miss West Virginia 1964 and the second runner up in the Miss America pagent. She married Caperton in 1965. Two sons were born of the marriage, William Gaston Caperton IV, and John Kessel Caperton. After working as an interior decorator, studing classical music, and learing how to fly an airplane, in 1986 Kessel Caperton was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates for a two year term. She did not seek relection in 1988, in order to campaign statewide for Caperton's campaign for governor. After becoming First Lady in 1989, she became the first First Lady of West Virginia to have her own office in the State Capitol. As First Lady, she focused on education, children and women's issues. After divorcing Caperton in 1990, she created national headlines when she announced her candidacy for State Treasurer of West Virginia that year. After losing the Treasurer's race, she moved to France, where she operated a small hotel in Saint-Remy. She died in France on September 1, 2000, age 57. In addition to her sons she is survived by two sisters, Elaine Stone and Sandra Rowley
Contributor: FRAGGLEROCK66 (47129937) •
Obit from jchswv.org
Ella Dee Kessel Caperton (February 26, 1943 - September 1, 2000) was a First Lady of West Virginia and Miss West Virginia. She was the wife of former West Virginia Governor William Gaston Caperton III, and the daughter of the late Jackson County Circuit Court Judge and West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Oliver D. and Katharyn Hartman Kessel. A gratuated of Ripley High School in 1960, she held a degree in music from West Virginia University, a master's degree in education from West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. She was Miss West Virginia 1964 and the second runner up in the Miss America pagent. She married Caperton in 1965. Two sons were born of the marriage, William Gaston Caperton IV, and John Kessel Caperton. After working as an interior decorator, studing classical music, and learing how to fly an airplane, in 1986 Kessel Caperton was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates for a two year term. She did not seek relection in 1988, in order to campaign statewide for Caperton's campaign for governor. After becoming First Lady in 1989, she became the first First Lady of West Virginia to have her own office in the State Capitol. As First Lady, she focused on education, children and women's issues. After divorcing Caperton in 1990, she created national headlines when she announced her candidacy for State Treasurer of West Virginia that year. After losing the Treasurer's race, she moved to France, where she operated a small hotel in Saint-Remy. She died in France on September 1, 2000, age 57. In addition to her sons she is survived by two sisters, Elaine Stone and Sandra Rowley
Contributor: FRAGGLEROCK66 (47129937) •
Ella Dee Kessel Caperton (February 26, 1943 - September 1, 2000) was a First Lady of West Virginia and Miss West Virginia. She was the wife of former West Virginia Governor William Gaston Caperton III, and the daughter of the late Jackson County Circuit Court Judge and West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Oliver D. and Katharyn Hartman Kessel. A gratuated of Ripley High School in 1960, she held a degree in music from West Virginia University, a master's degree in education from West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. She was Miss West Virginia 1964 and the second runner up in the Miss America pagent. She married Caperton in 1965. Two sons were born of the marriage, William Gaston Caperton IV, and John Kessel Caperton. After working as an interior decorator, studing classical music, and learing how to fly an airplane, in 1986 Kessel Caperton was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates for a two year term. She did not seek relection in 1988, in order to campaign statewide for Caperton's campaign for governor. After becoming First Lady in 1989, she became the first First Lady of West Virginia to have her own office in the State Capitol. As First Lady, she focused on education, children and women's issues. After divorcing Caperton in 1990, she created national headlines when she announced her candidacy for State Treasurer of West Virginia that year. After losing the Treasurer's race, she moved to France, where she operated a small hotel in Saint-Remy. She died in France on September 1, 2000, age 57. In addition to her sons she is survived by two sisters, Elaine Stone and Sandra Rowley
Contributor: FRAGGLEROCK66 (47129937) •
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