Kessel, Ray (Dr.)

Passed: 1966-05-31

Age:

Source:

Death Notice: 1966-06-01

Obituary Date:

Information: DR. RAY KESSEL, RETIRED RIPLEY PHYSICIAN, DIES -  Ripley - Dr. Ray Kessel, retired physician and surgeon, died Tuesday afternoon in the Clarksburg Veterans Hospital after a long illness.  He had practiced medicine in Jackson County and Charleston for 45 years.  Dr. Kessel was the son of the late Charles R. Kessel and Mrs. Louisa Kessel.  The latter survives and is 96 years old.  He attended Fairmont State College.  In 1915, he was graduated as valedictorian of his class at the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery.  It is now Loyola University.  Dr. Kessel served overseas with the U.S. Army Medical Corps in World War I and partricipated in the Meuse Argonne offensive.  He also was a World War II army officer and retired with 25 years in the Army Reserve.  Dr. Kessel was a retired honorary member of the Kanawha Medical Society of which he was a past president and held membership in the West Virginia State Medical Assn., the American Medical Assn. and the Military Surgeons' Assn.  He was a 50-year Mason and a member of the Ripley post of the American Legion.  His church affiliation was with Epworth Methodist Church in Ripley.  Dr. Kessel was the author of a number of medical journal and newspaper articles.  During his years in Charleston, he was active in civic affairs, particularly in Boy Scouts and as a Sunday School teacher at St. Marks and Humphreys Memorial Methodist Churches.  In addition to his mother, Dr. Kessel is survived by his wife, Kate Miller Kessel; daughters, Mrs. Katherine Burdette of Logan and Miss Jerry Kessel of Charleston; one son, Dr. Ray M. Kessel of Logan; one brother, Dr. Russell Kessel of Charleston, and eight grandchildren.  The eldest of three doctor brothers, Dr. Kessel was preceded in death last September by one brother, Dr. Roy Kessel of Ripley.  The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. in Epworth Methodist Church in Ripley with the Rev. Joseph Casey officiating.  Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery at Ripley.  Friends may call at the Parsons Funeral Home here.  The family suggests that memorials be made to Jackson General Hospital in Ripley.  Honorary pallbearers will be members of a number of medical societies.