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Hubert Kessler Obituary

TUSCALOOSA Hubert Kessler, age 71, of Tuscaloosa, died May 14, 2012, at Hospice of West Alabama. Visitation will be today, May 17, 2012, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Leak-Memory Chapel Funeral Home, 945 Lincoln Road, Montgomery, AL 36109, followed by a private family burial at 2 p.m. in Greenwood Serenity Memorial Gardens. A service in celebration of Hubert's life will be 1 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2012, at First United Methodist Church, 800 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, with Dr. Kenneth Dunivant officiating and Heritage Chapel Funeral Home of Tuscaloosa, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. There will be a reception immediately following the service at the church in Chitwood Hall.

Hubert was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Berret Kessler Sr.; his dear stepmother, Alice Ingram Kessler; his nephew, William David Watson; his infant grandson, Jakob Joseph Kessler; and brother-in-law, Robert Murray Bishop.

Survivors include his wife, Cindy Lee Gayden Kessler; his brothers, William Berret Kessler Jr. (Mary) of Long Beach, California and William Haynes Ingram, Jr. (Katrina) of Montgomery, Alabama; his sister, Carolyn Ingram Trimble (Gary) of Destin, Florida; his children, Marcus Moore Kessler (Stacey) of Atlanta, Georgia and Libba Kessler Tubbs (Randall) of Moundville, Alabama; his stepsons, Lewis Ruben Gayden III (Sandy) of Montgomery, Alabama and Christopher Redden Gayden of New Orleans, Louisiana; and his grandchildren, Alysandra Grace Kessler, Katherine Elise Kessler, Marcus Moore Kessler Jr., Clint Lee Overton (Amber), Kaci Rebecca Overton, Austin Hugh Tubbs, and Max Lewis Gayden.

Hubert was born January 13, 1941, in Montgomery, Alabama and graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1959. He lettered in basketball and baseball and was the proud Drum Major of the school's band. He graduated from the University of Alabama, where he was President of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and later elected ATO's Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He was a member of the University of Alabama baseball team during his freshman and sophomore years, and following graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant from the University's ROTC program. He was honorably discharged after serving two years of active duty at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

Hubert was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa. He served two terms as the church's Chairman of the Staff Parish Relations Committee and also served several terms on its Administrative Board. He especially enjoyed the relationships he developed with the members of the Friendship Sunday School class. Hubert was also a volunteer for Hospice of West Alabama for several years and later served two terms as President of the Board of Directors. He also served on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, Turning Point, and Indian Hills Country Club.

Throughout his professional career, Hubert worked in the field of Human Resources. In 1966, he was employed by Reynolds Metals Company in Sheffield, Alabama as Assistant Personnel Manager. He later was named Personnel Director of the company's International Division, but in 1972, he was offered and accepted the position of Director of Personnel at The University of Alabama. In 1985 he was promoted to Associate Vice President for Human Resources where he continued to work until his retirement in 1997. Hubert then consulted with several organizations, which included his serving for 10 years as Arbitrator for the State Mental Health Department in its contractual relationship with Public Service Employees Local No. 1279. He also consulted with Kennasaw State University and Security Bank. In 2001, he was employed by Coral Industries as its Chief Human Resources Officer, where he continued to work until his health declined.

Hubert began playing tennis when his son, Mark, and daughter, Libba, developed interest in the game. He encouraged and supported Mark's playing career very closely and developed a love for the game as well. A highlight of Hubert's tennis was in 1984 when he and Mark were finalists in the U.S. Open Tennis Championships Father-Son division in Flushing Meadow, New York. Hubert had success in numerous sanctioned tennis tournaments with several accomplished partners and gave back to the game he loved through volunteering in many capacities, including co-founding the Tuscaloosa Tennis Association. He was elected President of the Alabama Tennis Association in 2000 and in 2005 was inducted into the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame.

In later life, Hubert began playing golf regularly but not nearly as competitively as tennis. He always quipped that “golf is harder to play than tennis”. He enjoyed the challenge of the game but, as with tennis, even more the company of playing with special friends and family.

Honorary pallbearers are members of the Friendship Sunday School Class of First United Methodist Church; Beta Delta Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity; the Tuscaloosa Tennis Association; the Tuscaloosa Personnel Association; all of his tennis partners and friends through the years; and the members of his golfing groups and social groups.

Special family members include his nieces, Elizabeth Kessler Rector (Chris) of Springboro, Ohio, Alicelyn Watson Hudson (Ames) of Destin, Florida, and Lisa Marie d'Ambrosio (Craig) of Newberry Park, California; a very special grandniece, Caroline Hudson of Destin, Florida; nephews, William Mitchell Kessler (Toni) of Danville, California and William Berret Kessler III of Long Beach, California; three special cousins, Eleanor Kessler Whitehead (Philip) of Columbia, South Carolina, Yeardley Fowler Blackwell (Robert) of Hayes, Virginia, and Shirley Friendlich Wayne (Scott) of Washington, D.C.; Cindy's sister, Helen Anne Bishop of Reynolds Plantation, Georgia; her brother, Henry Fitzhugh Lee III (Dixie) of Auburn, Alabama; nieces, Bursley Hoefer (Steve) of Dallas, Texas, Lee Bruebach (Steve) of Naperville, Illinois, and Allison Redd (Gaines) of Atlanta, Georgia; and nephew, Robert Bishop III of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and the countless friends that he considered family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First United Methodist Church, 800 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401; or Hospice of West Alabama, 3851 Loop Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404.

Condolences may be offered at www.heritagechapeltuscaloosa.com.

Published by Tuscaloosa News from May 16 to May 17, 2012.
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My sincere sympathy to you and your family, I will always remember Hubert as the greatest Drum Major Lanier ever had he was truely one of a kind. My thoughts are with you.....Joan Dowdy Mangina Birmingham

Joan Mangina

May 24, 2012

What an amazing man who touched the lives of so many. His legacy will live on...

Keith Swindoll

May 21, 2012

Hubert and I ran into each other many time during my 22 years on the Alabama campus as the RUF campus minister. Each time we would try to figure out where in Montgomery (my home,too) we had met. Both Lanier grads but seperated by 12 years we finally figured it out. He had been my counselor at Camp Belser (a YMCA day camp out Vaughn Road) in 1960 or 61. We laughed at the Lord's providence and grace to put us together again in the same place many years latter still loving Him.

May the good Lord bless Hubert's family and loved ones in these days of grief. May these words of William Cowper comfort them as well.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

Thank you Lord for men like Hurbert Kessler.

Billy Joseph

May 19, 2012

I knew Mr. Kessler, when he worked at The University of Alabama. I am very sad to hear of his passing. My deep sympathy to your family.

Pollye Hardy

May 18, 2012

I knew Mr. Hubert Kessler through his son. My leader at PeopleNet is Mark Kessler, Sr. (Marcus), son of Hubert. The metaphor is striking, that I knew him through his son, but that is the way I "met" his father, Hubert Kessler.

Mark personally and with heart-felt intimacy speaks of his dad as one does for a very special friend, mentor, dad, father and memory-maker. Mark is so awesome, and in him I "see" Hubert. I haven't yet had the priviledge to meet Hubert, but I know that I know that I know I will meet this great and honorable Hubert Kessler in the flesh, and my heart yearns for this.

Condolences and warm hugs to all, especially right now and whenever the sorrow for your loss wells up. Rest assured the sorrow will last only a moment and then you will see him again face-to-face.

To all, Hubert's ultimate desire (and ours, too) is that your heart would yearn for the day when your resurrected body and hand reaches out in the New flesh to shake the right hand of the greatest King who has and will ever live.

His Name is Jesus.

He is the Son who reflected His Father through his life. He wanted us to know Him through His Son because that was the only way for a Father who is Spirit and Truth, and not a man, to step into His Own story by becoming a man in His own creation. Hubert wants you to yearn to meet the Father by meeting His Son.

Talk about a great reunion! Rest assured, Hubert will be the first among the happiest saints to greet you on that day.

We love you, Kessler family!

Glynn, Lisa and the Spangenberg Household
San Diego, CA

P.S. Thanks, Kess, for introducing us, through your heart and actions, to your family. I feel for your loss deep in my heart. We "celebrate Hubert's life" with you. Love you my friend.

Glynn & Lisa Spangenberg

May 18, 2012

Cindy, Hubie was a great person, and I enjoyed knowing him through CUPA. I remember so vividly our great time in Myrtle Beach when he had she crab soup for the first time. His comment was "I could bathe in this." His humor was wonderful. You and your family are in my prayers. Alice Baker (Florence, SC)

May 17, 2012

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Hubert fought a hard fight and will be missed by all who knew him. I regret I was not able to be at the visitation, you are all in my prayers.

Walter McKee

May 17, 2012

Knew Hubert (called Herbert) for a long time, and to the tennis buffs around here assisted him in selecting his first outfit for the courts at IHCC, but he showed up in cutoff blue jeans (powder blue) and I had to tell him that was not going to "float" at IHCC. and could beat him like a drum at the start of his tennis career but not very long after his start, could not touch the left-hander and of course the rest is history and I watched his son Marc develop also into great tennis players. We will all miss "Herbert" and we pray that the family will keep his memories going forever, the grands need to know he was a friend of almost anyone he met. God Bless each an everyone of you today. Prayers in for the Kessler family. c u later, Big T, Tommy Brooker #81 in 1961

May 17, 2012

Mr. Kessler was my "big boss" in the mid 1970's at the University of Alabama. He was a wonderful man, a great mentor and I have always remembered many things he taught me while working there. God bless you all. You will be remembered in our prayers.

Judith Mills

May 17, 2012

We are honored to have known such a wonderful man. Hubert was a great friend of ours. We will miss him. Our condolences to his family, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Fred & Rose Perkinson

May 17, 2012

Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.

teresa myers

May 17, 2012

Dearest Cindy,
Hubert was a lovely man. A gentleman in every way. He left this world knowing he had your love and devotion. What a gift. We love you.
Wendy Anzalone

May 17, 2012

My prayers are with the Kessler Family and also the Coral Family. God Bless.

Debbie Pinkston

May 17, 2012

Hubert was the best Director of Human Resources at The University of Alabama. May the loving memories comfort all, today and always. With my deepest sympathy,

Regina Croft

May 17, 2012

May your memories of the wonderful times you shared with your loved one comfort you and your family, today and always.

American Heart Association

May 16, 2012

Libba-
My mom sent me a message and told me about your dad. I'm so sorry for your loss. I didn't know your dad, but remember him coming to watch our tennis matches in high school. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Stacy Smith-Nutkis

May 16, 2012

Cindy, my heart is with you, Mark, Libba and family. Hubert was always a wonderful and faithful friend to my family. We will miss his beautiful smile and kind heart.
-Claire Cole

May 16, 2012

Cindy-we are thinking of you----please know that we are praying for you and your family. We pray for God's mercy and strength in the days ahead. We love you in Christ. Kitty and Brian Willett-Birmingham,al

brian willett

May 16, 2012

Cindy,
My sincerest condolences and Best Wishes from your Lanier High School classmate.

David Brents

May 16, 2012

We have known Hubert since 1972 as a valued member of our Southern group of college and unversity personnel directors. He was a great friend and will be greatly missed.

Jim & Dorothy Stockdale

May 16, 2012

Dearest Ciny, I am so sorry to hear about Hubert's death. He was loved by all who knew him.

Bess Fenton Moody
Auburn, AL

May 16, 2012

Hubert was a great collegue and HR mentor to many. I will never forget the good times we shared. Our sincere sympathies are with the family.

- Lee H. Richey

Lee Richey

May 16, 2012

I am so sorry for your loss. I knew Hubert through CUPA-HR. He was the consummate professional and a true gentleman. He will be missed by many.

Opal Haley

May 16, 2012

Herbert was a wonderful HR friend. He made us laugh when he said that he worked for THE University of Alabama. He was a great person and I am blessed that I knew him. Sincerely, Linda Miller

May 16, 2012

A few years back,my retired teacher, sister was visiting from out-of-state and attended the Tuscaloosa Personnel Association dinner with me.She had the pleasure to sit next to Hubert and they talked about tennis....her love. She would tell anyone how impressed she was just visiting with him. What a loss to his family, his church, and to Tuscaloosa County. He was so caring and positive!

Linda Hardwick

May 16, 2012

Sharron and I are saddened by the passing of our friend Hubert. We were the best of friends in Jr. High and High school and I have many memories that we made in those days. Hubert was a quality man then as now. We will all miss him and will keep Cindy, Mark, Libba and all the extended family in our prayers

Jim Thomas

May 16, 2012

Libba-I'm so sorry to hear of yalls loss. Thinking of you Clint, Kaci, Cindy, Becky and the rest of the Kessler family. Love you guys!

Shelley Milner

May 16, 2012

Libba,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you go through this difficult time.

Wayne and Brenda Carter

May 16, 2012

Dear Cindy, Lila called and told me about Hubert. A lifelong friend and a wonderful man. We grew up together at the Church of the Ascension and I have a picture of us serving together as acolytes. When I talked to him last he took me aside and told me that the happiest day of his life was when he married you. That was at our 50th Lanier reunion. Bless you an your entire family. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. Fondest regards, Wiley

Wiley Ashley

May 16, 2012

What a great guy! Condolences to Cindy, to the family, and to all of us. Judith Shanks, Washington DC (Judy Weil)

Judith Shanks

May 16, 2012

Heaven's tennis team has another all star...on and off the court...Hubert was a champion in every measure.

Marilyn Sherman

May 16, 2012

Libba,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.

Keith Milligan

May 16, 2012

Cindy, Mark, Libba and all the Kessler's, my sincere sympathy for your loss. Hubert's positive and caring attitude touched me in so many ways. He was a joy to be with in every situation. I know he is looking down on us now encoraging everyone to be the best they can be.

John Callen

John Callen

May 16, 2012

You were truly THE man! You were also my very best friend growing up in Montgomery. I will always miss you as you left a large footprint on this earth. May you rest in peace. Hampy

May 16, 2012

Libba, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May your memories bring you comfort. I love you.......Lisa Jones

Lisa Jones

May 16, 2012

My heart is saddened by the death of our friend and fellow student. Hubert's friendly smile and zest for life reflected the respect that he held by his peers and mentors. We are all glad that he walked, laughed and studied with us at Lanier. He certainly looked for the best in others and gave them the best he had. My love and sincere sympathy goes to Cindy and family. With love and prayers....Lois Massengale Freeman

Lois Freeman

May 16, 2012

My heart is saddened by the death of our friend and fellow student. Hubert's friendly smile and zest for life reflected the respect that he held by his peers and mentors. We are all glad that he walked, laughed and studied with us at Lanier. He certainly looked for the best in others and gave them the best he had. My love and sincere sympathy goes to Cindy and family. With love and prayers....Lois Massengale Freeman

May 16, 2012

Sincere sympathy to the entire family of Hubert...He was a great man and a beloved classmate....Cynthia Judkins Godbold

Cynthia Godbold

May 16, 2012

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