Glenda Joy Kessler passed away on Saturday after a blessedly short battle with Alzheimer's ending with a stroke. Glenda touched many lives with her gentle spirit and Christian outlook on life.
Glenda was born at home in Stillwater, OK on Nov. 22, 1938 to Rich and Lona (Lynch) Ashmore. As the oldest of 6 siblings, all who survive her, she learned to love and raise children. Glenda graduated from Putnam City High School in 1956 and attended Phillips University in the foothills of the Ozarks in Arkansas. After college, while working as a bank teller in Oklahoma City, she met her lifelong love and husband of 55 years, Jack Steven Kessler while he was stationed in the Navy at Norman OK. They were married Dec. 22, 1958 by Rev. R. Duckworth. She followed Jack to his next Navy duty station in San Diego, CA. Upon Jack's honorable discharge from the Navy they moved to San Jose CA to find work. They remained in the greater San Jose area later known as Silicon Valley. She again worked as a teller and then when their oldest son Craig was born she elected to be a stay-at-home mom. During this time she worked as an aid in the same schools. She sometimes struggled to raise her three children (two she gave birth to and one she married) but the two youngest boys turned out to be caring loving husbands and fathers and Jack is still a work in progress. Glenda continued as a stay-at-home mom until the boys were out of grammar school and worked as a loan officer for several large loan companies, until 1980 when work took Jack and the family to live near Tokyo Japan from 1981-1984. There she made friends, both American and Japanese, as easy as she had in the US. She joined the American School in Japan club and traveled extensively throughout Japan, seeing the customs, art, artists, and sights of Japan that few foreigners were able to do. During the last year she cared for Jack as he recovered from major surgery. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1985 she worked as an Administrative Assistant at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale CA before retiring in 2001. She and Jack then sold their home in San Jose, CA and moved to their gorgeous "week-end retreat" in the small "gold-country mining" town of Mountain Ranch CA. The IRS required they stay for two years before moving to Martinsville in 2003 to be closer to her sons and her grandchildren in Kokomo.
Glenda is survived by her loving husband, Jack after 55 year. In the last few years as Alzheimer's disease progressed, Jack was often seen carrying her purse as the weight was too much for her. Many snide remarks were made to Jack about his Purse not matching but he just "carried-on" threatening to hit them with it. She is also survived by her sons, Craig and his wife Hozumi and children Emi and Ken and Michael and his wife Laura, and their daughter Caitlin, both families living almost next door to each other in Kokomo, IN. And her oldest grandchild, Caitlin, is graduating Suma Cum Laude from Manchester University in May. She was so looking forward to Caitlin's graduation and white coat ceremony later this month.
Her siblings all survive her and in order of birth: Gerald Ashmore and his wife Carol of Edmond, OK; sister Beverly Ashmore of Plainsfield IL; Larry Ashmore and his wife Jan of Tulsa, OK; Sherry Manson and husband David of Arvada , CO and her youngest brother, Gary Ashmore of Tulsa OK.
Over the years, Glenda collected many friends and antiques, and stacks and stacks of cookbooks she purchased at church sales, antique stores and garage sales. She read all of them and some were actually used in meal preparation. She was also an avid "Kleenex collector" never going anywhere without a handful of Kleenex that often were found later in the wash. She loved to travel in the US and abroad and Glenda and Jack spent their 50th wedding anniversary on a tour in Costa Rica. But she especially looked forward to the "three sisters" trips taken along with her sisters, Beverly and Sherry. These trips were punctuated with long and loud laughter, snorts and various other noises all hours of the day and night along with "mystery snorers" ("I/we do not snore!" at night. Many stares from bystanders were received during their daytime antics. Glenda was active in Prince of Peace, Lutheran Church and she especially loved the Tuesday bible study group. And she always looked forward to attending and supplying food and her husband's help for many church activities.
There will be no casket or viewing ceremony as she was cremated per her wishes. A brief ceremony and celebration of life led by Pastor Janssen will be held at Prince of Peace Lutheran church on Friday April 18th 2014 at 11:00 AM. Anyone wanting to share their remembrance of their time with Glenda is asked to please contact Pastor Janssen.
In July her ashes will be transferred to her final resting place beside her Mother and Father at a small country cemetery, in OK where many of her family are buried. The ceremony will take place during the annual Lynch family reunion around July 4.
She asked that her ceremony be simple and quiet like herself and that any contributions be sent to your favorite charity (in her name).
She will be so greatly missed by her husband, family and a host of friends. But she is now in the company of her parents, Rich and Lona Ashmore and finally at peace.
She will be remembered by all who knew her, as a gentle soul who shared her love, laughter and love of her family with all.
Neal & Summers Funeral Home - April 15, 2014
Glenda was born at home in Stillwater, OK on Nov. 22, 1938 to Rich and Lona (Lynch) Ashmore. As the oldest of 6 siblings, all who survive her, she learned to love and raise children. Glenda graduated from Putnam City High School in 1956 and attended Phillips University in the foothills of the Ozarks in Arkansas. After college, while working as a bank teller in Oklahoma City, she met her lifelong love and husband of 55 years, Jack Steven Kessler while he was stationed in the Navy at Norman OK. They were married Dec. 22, 1958 by Rev. R. Duckworth. She followed Jack to his next Navy duty station in San Diego, CA. Upon Jack's honorable discharge from the Navy they moved to San Jose CA to find work. They remained in the greater San Jose area later known as Silicon Valley. She again worked as a teller and then when their oldest son Craig was born she elected to be a stay-at-home mom. During this time she worked as an aid in the same schools. She sometimes struggled to raise her three children (two she gave birth to and one she married) but the two youngest boys turned out to be caring loving husbands and fathers and Jack is still a work in progress. Glenda continued as a stay-at-home mom until the boys were out of grammar school and worked as a loan officer for several large loan companies, until 1980 when work took Jack and the family to live near Tokyo Japan from 1981-1984. There she made friends, both American and Japanese, as easy as she had in the US. She joined the American School in Japan club and traveled extensively throughout Japan, seeing the customs, art, artists, and sights of Japan that few foreigners were able to do. During the last year she cared for Jack as he recovered from major surgery. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1985 she worked as an Administrative Assistant at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale CA before retiring in 2001. She and Jack then sold their home in San Jose, CA and moved to their gorgeous "week-end retreat" in the small "gold-country mining" town of Mountain Ranch CA. The IRS required they stay for two years before moving to Martinsville in 2003 to be closer to her sons and her grandchildren in Kokomo.
Glenda is survived by her loving husband, Jack after 55 year. In the last few years as Alzheimer's disease progressed, Jack was often seen carrying her purse as the weight was too much for her. Many snide remarks were made to Jack about his Purse not matching but he just "carried-on" threatening to hit them with it. She is also survived by her sons, Craig and his wife Hozumi and children Emi and Ken and Michael and his wife Laura, and their daughter Caitlin, both families living almost next door to each other in Kokomo, IN. And her oldest grandchild, Caitlin, is graduating Suma Cum Laude from Manchester University in May. She was so looking forward to Caitlin's graduation and white coat ceremony later this month.
Her siblings all survive her and in order of birth: Gerald Ashmore and his wife Carol of Edmond, OK; sister Beverly Ashmore of Plainsfield IL; Larry Ashmore and his wife Jan of Tulsa, OK; Sherry Manson and husband David of Arvada , CO and her youngest brother, Gary Ashmore of Tulsa OK.
Over the years, Glenda collected many friends and antiques, and stacks and stacks of cookbooks she purchased at church sales, antique stores and garage sales. She read all of them and some were actually used in meal preparation. She was also an avid "Kleenex collector" never going anywhere without a handful of Kleenex that often were found later in the wash. She loved to travel in the US and abroad and Glenda and Jack spent their 50th wedding anniversary on a tour in Costa Rica. But she especially looked forward to the "three sisters" trips taken along with her sisters, Beverly and Sherry. These trips were punctuated with long and loud laughter, snorts and various other noises all hours of the day and night along with "mystery snorers" ("I/we do not snore!" at night. Many stares from bystanders were received during their daytime antics. Glenda was active in Prince of Peace, Lutheran Church and she especially loved the Tuesday bible study group. And she always looked forward to attending and supplying food and her husband's help for many church activities.
There will be no casket or viewing ceremony as she was cremated per her wishes. A brief ceremony and celebration of life led by Pastor Janssen will be held at Prince of Peace Lutheran church on Friday April 18th 2014 at 11:00 AM. Anyone wanting to share their remembrance of their time with Glenda is asked to please contact Pastor Janssen.
In July her ashes will be transferred to her final resting place beside her Mother and Father at a small country cemetery, in OK where many of her family are buried. The ceremony will take place during the annual Lynch family reunion around July 4.
She asked that her ceremony be simple and quiet like herself and that any contributions be sent to your favorite charity (in her name).
She will be so greatly missed by her husband, family and a host of friends. But she is now in the company of her parents, Rich and Lona Ashmore and finally at peace.
She will be remembered by all who knew her, as a gentle soul who shared her love, laughter and love of her family with all.
Neal & Summers Funeral Home - April 15, 2014
Glenda Joy Kessler passed away on Saturday after a blessedly short battle with Alzheimer's ending with a stroke. Glenda touched many lives with her gentle spirit and Christian outlook on life.
Glenda was born at home in Stillwater, OK on Nov. 22, 1938 to Rich and Lona (Lynch) Ashmore. As the oldest of 6 siblings, all who survive her, she learned to love and raise children. Glenda graduated from Putnam City High School in 1956 and attended Phillips University in the foothills of the Ozarks in Arkansas. After college, while working as a bank teller in Oklahoma City, she met her lifelong love and husband of 55 years, Jack Steven Kessler while he was stationed in the Navy at Norman OK. They were married Dec. 22, 1958 by Rev. R. Duckworth. She followed Jack to his next Navy duty station in San Diego, CA. Upon Jack's honorable discharge from the Navy they moved to San Jose CA to find work. They remained in the greater San Jose area later known as Silicon Valley. She again worked as a teller and then when their oldest son Craig was born she elected to be a stay-at-home mom. During this time she worked as an aid in the same schools. She sometimes struggled to raise her three children (two she gave birth to and one she married) but the two youngest boys turned out to be caring loving husbands and fathers and Jack is still a work in progress. Glenda continued as a stay-at-home mom until the boys were out of grammar school and worked as a loan officer for several large loan companies, until 1980 when work took Jack and the family to live near Tokyo Japan from 1981-1984. There she made friends, both American and Japanese, as easy as she had in the US. She joined the American School in Japan club and traveled extensively throughout Japan, seeing the customs, art, artists, and sights of Japan that few foreigners were able to do. During the last year she cared for Jack as he recovered from major surgery. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1985 she worked as an Administrative Assistant at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale CA before retiring in 2001. She and Jack then sold their home in San Jose, CA and moved to their gorgeous "week-end retreat" in the small "gold-country mining" town of Mountain Ranch CA. The IRS required they stay for two years before moving to Martinsville in 2003 to be closer to her sons and her grandchildren in Kokomo.
Glenda is survived by her loving husband, Jack after 55 year. In the last few years as Alzheimer's disease progressed, Jack was often seen carrying her purse as the weight was too much for her. Many snide remarks were made to Jack about his Purse not matching but he just "carried-on" threatening to hit them with it. She is also survived by her sons, Craig and his wife Hozumi and children Emi and Ken and Michael and his wife Laura, and their daughter Caitlin, both families living almost next door to each other in Kokomo, IN. And her oldest grandchild, Caitlin, is graduating Suma Cum Laude from Manchester University in May. She was so looking forward to Caitlin's graduation and white coat ceremony later this month.
Her siblings all survive her and in order of birth: Gerald Ashmore and his wife Carol of Edmond, OK; sister Beverly Ashmore of Plainsfield IL; Larry Ashmore and his wife Jan of Tulsa, OK; Sherry Manson and husband David of Arvada , CO and her youngest brother, Gary Ashmore of Tulsa OK.
Over the years, Glenda collected many friends and antiques, and stacks and stacks of cookbooks she purchased at church sales, antique stores and garage sales. She read all of them and some were actually used in meal preparation. She was also an avid "Kleenex collector" never going anywhere without a handful of Kleenex that often were found later in the wash. She loved to travel in the US and abroad and Glenda and Jack spent their 50th wedding anniversary on a tour in Costa Rica. But she especially looked forward to the "three sisters" trips taken along with her sisters, Beverly and Sherry. These trips were punctuated with long and loud laughter, snorts and various other noises all hours of the day and night along with "mystery snorers" ("I/we do not snore!" at night. Many stares from bystanders were received during their daytime antics. Glenda was active in Prince of Peace, Lutheran Church and she especially loved the Tuesday bible study group. And she always looked forward to attending and supplying food and her husband's help for many church activities.
There will be no casket or viewing ceremony as she was cremated per her wishes. A brief ceremony and celebration of life led by Pastor Janssen will be held at Prince of Peace Lutheran church on Friday April 18th 2014 at 11:00 AM. Anyone wanting to share their remembrance of their time with Glenda is asked to please contact Pastor Janssen.
In July her ashes will be transferred to her final resting place beside her Mother and Father at a small country cemetery, in OK where many of her family are buried. The ceremony will take place during the annual Lynch family reunion around July 4.
She asked that her ceremony be simple and quiet like herself and that any contributions be sent to your favorite charity (in her name).
She will be so greatly missed by her husband, family and a host of friends. But she is now in the company of her parents, Rich and Lona Ashmore and finally at peace.
She will be remembered by all who knew her, as a gentle soul who shared her love, laughter and love of her family with all.
Neal & Summers Funeral Home - April 15, 2014
Glenda was born at home in Stillwater, OK on Nov. 22, 1938 to Rich and Lona (Lynch) Ashmore. As the oldest of 6 siblings, all who survive her, she learned to love and raise children. Glenda graduated from Putnam City High School in 1956 and attended Phillips University in the foothills of the Ozarks in Arkansas. After college, while working as a bank teller in Oklahoma City, she met her lifelong love and husband of 55 years, Jack Steven Kessler while he was stationed in the Navy at Norman OK. They were married Dec. 22, 1958 by Rev. R. Duckworth. She followed Jack to his next Navy duty station in San Diego, CA. Upon Jack's honorable discharge from the Navy they moved to San Jose CA to find work. They remained in the greater San Jose area later known as Silicon Valley. She again worked as a teller and then when their oldest son Craig was born she elected to be a stay-at-home mom. During this time she worked as an aid in the same schools. She sometimes struggled to raise her three children (two she gave birth to and one she married) but the two youngest boys turned out to be caring loving husbands and fathers and Jack is still a work in progress. Glenda continued as a stay-at-home mom until the boys were out of grammar school and worked as a loan officer for several large loan companies, until 1980 when work took Jack and the family to live near Tokyo Japan from 1981-1984. There she made friends, both American and Japanese, as easy as she had in the US. She joined the American School in Japan club and traveled extensively throughout Japan, seeing the customs, art, artists, and sights of Japan that few foreigners were able to do. During the last year she cared for Jack as he recovered from major surgery. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1985 she worked as an Administrative Assistant at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale CA before retiring in 2001. She and Jack then sold their home in San Jose, CA and moved to their gorgeous "week-end retreat" in the small "gold-country mining" town of Mountain Ranch CA. The IRS required they stay for two years before moving to Martinsville in 2003 to be closer to her sons and her grandchildren in Kokomo.
Glenda is survived by her loving husband, Jack after 55 year. In the last few years as Alzheimer's disease progressed, Jack was often seen carrying her purse as the weight was too much for her. Many snide remarks were made to Jack about his Purse not matching but he just "carried-on" threatening to hit them with it. She is also survived by her sons, Craig and his wife Hozumi and children Emi and Ken and Michael and his wife Laura, and their daughter Caitlin, both families living almost next door to each other in Kokomo, IN. And her oldest grandchild, Caitlin, is graduating Suma Cum Laude from Manchester University in May. She was so looking forward to Caitlin's graduation and white coat ceremony later this month.
Her siblings all survive her and in order of birth: Gerald Ashmore and his wife Carol of Edmond, OK; sister Beverly Ashmore of Plainsfield IL; Larry Ashmore and his wife Jan of Tulsa, OK; Sherry Manson and husband David of Arvada , CO and her youngest brother, Gary Ashmore of Tulsa OK.
Over the years, Glenda collected many friends and antiques, and stacks and stacks of cookbooks she purchased at church sales, antique stores and garage sales. She read all of them and some were actually used in meal preparation. She was also an avid "Kleenex collector" never going anywhere without a handful of Kleenex that often were found later in the wash. She loved to travel in the US and abroad and Glenda and Jack spent their 50th wedding anniversary on a tour in Costa Rica. But she especially looked forward to the "three sisters" trips taken along with her sisters, Beverly and Sherry. These trips were punctuated with long and loud laughter, snorts and various other noises all hours of the day and night along with "mystery snorers" ("I/we do not snore!" at night. Many stares from bystanders were received during their daytime antics. Glenda was active in Prince of Peace, Lutheran Church and she especially loved the Tuesday bible study group. And she always looked forward to attending and supplying food and her husband's help for many church activities.
There will be no casket or viewing ceremony as she was cremated per her wishes. A brief ceremony and celebration of life led by Pastor Janssen will be held at Prince of Peace Lutheran church on Friday April 18th 2014 at 11:00 AM. Anyone wanting to share their remembrance of their time with Glenda is asked to please contact Pastor Janssen.
In July her ashes will be transferred to her final resting place beside her Mother and Father at a small country cemetery, in OK where many of her family are buried. The ceremony will take place during the annual Lynch family reunion around July 4.
She asked that her ceremony be simple and quiet like herself and that any contributions be sent to your favorite charity (in her name).
She will be so greatly missed by her husband, family and a host of friends. But she is now in the company of her parents, Rich and Lona Ashmore and finally at peace.
She will be remembered by all who knew her, as a gentle soul who shared her love, laughter and love of her family with all.
Neal & Summers Funeral Home - April 15, 2014
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