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In memory of

Raymond Blaine Kessler, Jr.

Escondido, California

October 4, 1921 - October 12, 2020

Oct 4, 1921 - Oct 12, 2020

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Raymond Blaine Kessler, Jr., 99, of Escondido, California, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2020.

He leaves his loving wife of 43 years, Sue Kessler (Escondido, CA); his children, Raymond, III and Barbara Kessler (Fountain Hills, AZ), William Kessler (Spring Valley, CA), and Colleen Kessler (Oceanside, CA); his step-children, Tamara and Michael Sullivan (Stevenson, WA), Michael and Lori O’Neal (Oceanside, CA), and Steven O’Neal (Lakeside, CA); and his grandchildren, Tanya Kessler, Meggan Kessler, William Kessler, Jr., Daniel Kessler, Macy Weinman, Connor Sullivan, Alyssa O’Neal and Sara O’Neal. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Dorothy Kessler, his sister and brother-in-law, Joanie and DeWitt Spain, and his former wife, Josephine O’Brien.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ray spent his formative years in Los Angeles, California, attending Hollywood High School until his sophomore year. He completed his secondary education at Robinson High School in Robinson, Illinois, lettering in track and football and captaining an award-earning debate team. California beckoned, where he commenced his higher education at Los Angeles State College. But his patriotic duty tugged stronger, and he joined the Army Air Corp on Armistice Day in 1941. He was trained as a fighter pilot and served in the Seventh Fighter Command of the Pacific Theater in World War II. During his military tenure, Captain Kessler survived a banzai attack, was one of the first pilots to successfully catapult from a carrier flight deck using a tricycle gear, and was remarkably rescued from the sea near Kyushu, by the submarine USS Threadfin, after ditching his plane while on a mission. 1945 marked his separation from active duty and his marriage to Josephine. The newlyweds moved to San Jose, California where Ray graduated from San Jose State with a Bachelor of Arts in Business in 1949. He immediately began teaching at Merced High School in California. Two years later, he was called back to serve in the newly-named Air Force during the Korean War and was trained to fly jets. He eventually discharged in 1953.

Ray’s growing family returned to San Jose, later settling in Oceanside, California. Flying remained his passion! He and childhood friend, Johnnie McKibbin, started a crop dusting business, servicing agricultural fields. His crop spraying sorties came to an end a few years later due to safety and health concerns. Ray returned to teaching in the Oceanside Unified School District, this time in elementary education. His devotion toward teaching prevailed, and he continued enriching the lives of Oceanside children for many years. Sadly, he and Josephine soon parted. He met Sue and married again in 1977. His leadership qualities ultimately positioned him as a principal, first at Ditmar Elementary School and later at Garrison Elementary School. He continued in this role, admired by both his staff and the student/parent community, until his retirement in 1982.

With time on his hands, Ray remained engaged with life. Golf and racquetball kept him athletically challenged. He built his dream home, complete with a pool (and he totally rocked those Speedo swim suits!). His dog, Diego, was his constant companion, and Jack, the cat, loved him as only cats can. Sheep, chickens, hogs, and a bull joined the menagerie of animals living at the Kessler homestead. RV travel took the couple to new destinations, but Kauai pulled at his heartstrings the hardest, and it remained his favorite, sun-soaking haven of rest and relaxation. He lived his final 20+ years at Lawrence Welk’s Champagne Village, serving on the Property Owners Association Board, contributing toward a self-led rattlesnake catch-and-release effort, and living his dream as a closet comedic actor.

Ray lived his life with dignity and loyalty. His tremendous love of family kept him content. He loved. He was loved. He will be sorely missed.

The Kessler family would like to acknowledge and thank Anne’s Place Board and Care Home and Sonata Hospice for four months of exceptional, compassionate care.

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