Ada Belle (Stanley) Kessler, 88, wife of William Theodore Kessler, passed away at home in Damascus, Maryland on January 7, 2018, surrounded by her loving husband, daughter, and devoted caregiver.  Born June 16, 1929 in Damascus, Maryland to the late Charles Edward and Daphne Marie (Watkins) Stanley.  Mrs. Kessler was raised and lived in Damascus all of her life.  She leaves behind her husband; daughter Dana Lu (Hines) Herndon (and husband Darryl) and daughter-in-law Verna Hines; four grandchildren, Richard (Ryan) Hines (and wife, Carrie), Jeffrey Hines (and wife Kristina), Darryl (Matthew) Herndon (and wife Diane) and Dara Herndon-Harrison (and husband, Jason); nine great grandchildren, Avery, Macy, Josie and Anthony Hines, Grayson Hines, Aubrey and Matthew Herndon, and Olivia and Evie Harrison; and her devoted caregiver Jo Ann (Johnson) True.  Mrs. Kessler was preceded in death by her parents; son Richard Dennis Hines; and siblings, Mary Johnson, Betty Gillis and Charles (Kenneth) Stanley.

Mrs. Kessler graduated from Damascus High School in 1947 where she was active in sports; women’s basketball was her favorite.  She was a member of the Damascus United Methodist Church for 76 years and was also a member of the former Damascus Travel Club and Damascus Community Bank’s Travel Club.  At different times, she bowled with the Damascus Women’s Bowling League, Mt. Airy Women’s Bowling League, and the NIH Mixed Bowling League.  She first worked at the Rockville Court House as a supply buyer and, later, worked at the National Institutes of Health’s main campus in Bethesda, Md. 33 years.  During her time at NIH, she worked as a purchasing agent, contract negotiator, contracting officer, and culminated her career in acquisitions as an assistant division chief for one of NIH’s procurement divisions (in “Building 31”).  Following her retirement from the federal government in 1984, Mrs. Kessler and her husband opened and ran the Country House in Mt. Airy where they sold primitive antiques and crafts for 15 years.  In 1999, she and her husband bought a vacation home in Rock Hall, Maryland where they enjoyed time living along the Chesapeake Bay.

The family of Mrs. Kessler wish to thank the many care givers who opened their hearts to provide their love, support, and wonderful care during her illness, most especially Jo Ann, Janet, Cathy, Tanya, Visiting Angels and Montgomery Hospice.

Friends may call 3-5 & 7-9 p.m. Thursday January11th,  at Molesworth-Williams Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Road, Damascus, Maryland 20872. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 12, at the funeral home.  Interment will follow in Montgomery Methodist Cemetery, Damascus. 

Pallbearers will be grandsons:  Richard (Ryan) Hines, Jeffrey Hines, and Darryl (Matthew) Herndon; grandson-in-law, Jason Harrison; and family friends Oral Herndon and George Herndon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, P.O. Box 1950 Clarksburg, Maryland 20871-1950

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.molesworthwilliams.com