Obituary of Earl M. Kesler

Earl Marshall Kesler, 95, passed away on October 4th, 2016. He was born in 1920 and grew up in Clover Lick, WV. He graduated from Marlinton, WV High School, received an associate degree from Potomac State College, B.S. from West Virginia University, and both M.S. and Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University. In 1943 he joined the Army Air Corps and served until 1946 as a navigator on a B-24 in a heavy bombardment group of the 15th Air Force stationed in Italy. His plane was shot down and he spent the last 10 months in Hungarian and German hospitals and POW camps. After completing his Ph.D. in1951, he remained on the faculty at Penn State until his retirement in 1984. Dr. Kesler is survived by his wife of 70 years, Wilna Brandenburg Kesler of Boalsburg, daughter Charlotte Fuquay (John) of Starkville MS, daughter Margaret Eberling (Mike) of Denver NC, son Alan (Carol) of Boston MA, brother Ray Kesler of Morgantown, WV, 5 grandchildren, Michael Fuquay, David Fuquay, Nick Eberling, Kevin Eberling, and Kelly Kesler, 4 great grandchildren, and 7 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by both parents and 4 siblings. Dr. Kesler was highly respected by his peers in his professional society, the American Dairy Science Association. During his professional career he received a number of recognitions for his accomplishments and contribution to the Dairy industry. These included the Distinguished Dairy Alumnus Award from the College of Agriculture at Pennsylvania State University, the Distinguished Service Award from the northeast section of the American Society of Animal Science and the Award of Merit for Research from Gamma Sigma Delta. His 65 graduate students have continued his legacy of excellence in the field of Dairy Science with outstanding achievements in teaching, research and service both nationally and internationally. They have gained professional prominence at 12 different universities as well as in the dairy industry. Within the American Dairy Science Association seven of his students have won research awards, three teaching awards, two have served as editor of the Journal of Dairy Science and one has been recognized as a Fellow. The achievements of his students are a credit to his role as a mentor and represent a record that few in his profession have surpassed. The legacy that he gave the dairy industry by way of the students that he trained may have been his crowning achievement and they certainly were his pride. After his retirement from Penn State, Dr Kesler spent many years in volunteer service within the State College area. Earl contributed over 7,500 hours to Tri County Habitat for Humanity including serving as construction foreman for 4 of the 19 houses on which he worked. He also gave over 20 years of service to the Boalsburg Heritage Museum where he served on the Board of Directors, published a history of the museum and was heavily involved in the maintenance and preservation of the museum. The large barn that was erected on the property in 2008 was his project. He served as editor of the Harris Township newsletter for many years. Earl was active in St Paul's United Methodist Church for over 65 years where he served in many capacities and was a frequent Sunday school teacher. Other volunteer endeavors included working as a driver and treasurer for the Park Forest Day Nursery for 10 years and working for Centre Home Care. In later years Earl became active in an ExPOW group and presented many lectures to interested organizations about his WWII and POW experiences. Dr Kesler leaves a legacy of dedication to the Dairy Industry as well as a high value on education, generosity and volunteer service. He stands as a role model for the value of hard work and the generous giving of one's time, talents and financial blessings. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m., on Sunday, October 9, 2016, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m., on Monday, October 10, 2016 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 250 E. College Ave., State College, with the Reverend Greg Milinovich officiating. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Earl M. Kesler Endowment at Penn State. http://agsci.psu.edu/giving Or St Paul's United Methodist Church, 250 E. College Ave., State College, PA. 16801. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.