Beatrice Kessler

Beatrice Sophie Teller Kessler, 99, died on Jan. 20, 2020, in Uvalde.

She was born Feb. 4, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York, to Bertha Sophie Melby Teller and Franklin Washington Teller Jr., both of Arlington, Virginia. They preceded her in death and are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Soon after her birth, the family moved to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, the assignment of her father by the U.S. Army in the World War I era. After discharge, they moved to Austin, where her father graduated from the University of Texas in 1926 with a degree in architecture.

Then it was on to Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Virginia, where she grew up during the Great Depression, along with her brothers, Howard Teller and Roy Teller.

Her employment of seven years was with the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Washington, D.C., and for several years she was a secretary for FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

At World War II's end in 1945, she resigned from the FBI and married Captain William A. Kessler, a native Texan, at the time of his discharge from the Pentagon, U.S. Army Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C.

They were married in St. John's Episcopal Church, across from the White House, and soon departed for Uvalde, where her husband resumed his law practice with Dorwin Suttle.

Their early office was in the Uvalde Grand Opera House. Their son, Bill Kessler Jr., continues the law practice in the First State Bank of Uvalde Building.

Bea and Bill had three children – all graduates of Uvalde High School and universities in Texas: (Bill) William A. Kessler, Jr. and wife, Marjorie, of Uvalde; (Bob) Robert Teller Kessler and wife, Marty, of Spring; and Helen Kessler Windham and husband, Ellis O. Windham Jr. (deceased), of Austin.

There are six grandchildren, Robert Arthur Kessler and wife, Sarah, Ann Kessler Thompson and husband, Darin, Barry Robert Kessler and wife, Blair, Patrick Stephen Kessler and wife, Megan, Scott Ellis Windham and wife, Debra, and Laura Windham Pilatin and husband, Ali, and 16 great-grandchildren.

Bea was predeceased by her parents, brothers, husband, and son-in-law.

Bea and Bill were married for almost 56 years, until his death in 2001. They traveled in and out of the country, and enjoyed family and friends at their river place in Uvalde.

The Kessler family gives thanks for the dedicated and loving care given to Bea by Elmira Valdez, Betty Perez, Isabel Perez and Rosa Alvarado.

A lifelong Episcopalian, her funeral service will be at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Uvalde at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, with the Rev. Michael K. Marsh officiating. A reception will follow in Grace Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 343 N. Getty St., Uvalde, TX 78801, or the charity of one's choice.