Kay also known as KK, was born on the family farm in Ray Township, Franklin County, Indiana. She had three brothers: Ed (1913-1943), Clem (1915-2001) and Clarence "Dick" (1922-1980) and four sisters: Marcella (1914-1938), Leona (1928-2003) and two still living.
Kay went to school at Enochsburg, Decatur County, Indiana and graduated from the eighth grade--typical for those days. After graduation she stayed on at the farm awhile helping to care for her younger siblings and her niece who came to live with them after Kay's brother, Ed, was killed during WWII.
Kay was a fun loving happy person. She loved to sing and entertain the kids while her sister played the gituar or sang along with the records on the Victrola. She was especially close with her youngest sister.
Never married, Kay was the traveler in the family. She and her brother Dick took a long round about trip from Florida to California. Always a sharp dresser, she took particular pleasure in sending the folks back in Indiana a picture of her standing by a palm tree in the latest fashion.
In 1950, she also made a pilgrimage to Lourdes, visiting several places in Italy, Portugal as well as France. Kay had many special memories, especially from Rome where she saw the Sistine Chapel and went to the Vatican where she got to meet Pope Pius XII. She also traveled to Salerno, Italy to see the place where her brother had been killed.
During WWII with most of the men gone to war, opportunities for women to be hired in formerly "men only" jobs increased. Kay did one of these jobs when she was employed by Allison Engine Company in Indianapolis building aircraft engines such as the V1710, perhaps the most famous aircraft engine in American Aviation history. She remained there until after the war then went to work at Cincinnati Milling Machine Company [now Cincinnati Milicron].
Kay died in 1953 after being accidently injured in a fall resulting from an epileptic seizure. She was 34.
Kay also known as KK, was born on the family farm in Ray Township, Franklin County, Indiana. She had three brothers: Ed (1913-1943), Clem (1915-2001) and Clarence "Dick" (1922-1980) and four sisters: Marcella (1914-1938), Leona (1928-2003) and two still living.
Kay went to school at Enochsburg, Decatur County, Indiana and graduated from the eighth grade--typical for those days. After graduation she stayed on at the farm awhile helping to care for her younger siblings and her niece who came to live with them after Kay's brother, Ed, was killed during WWII.
Kay was a fun loving happy person. She loved to sing and entertain the kids while her sister played the gituar or sang along with the records on the Victrola. She was especially close with her youngest sister.
Never married, Kay was the traveler in the family. She and her brother Dick took a long round about trip from Florida to California. Always a sharp dresser, she took particular pleasure in sending the folks back in Indiana a picture of her standing by a palm tree in the latest fashion.
In 1950, she also made a pilgrimage to Lourdes, visiting several places in Italy, Portugal as well as France. Kay had many special memories, especially from Rome where she saw the Sistine Chapel and went to the Vatican where she got to meet Pope Pius XII. She also traveled to Salerno, Italy to see the place where her brother had been killed.
During WWII with most of the men gone to war, opportunities for women to be hired in formerly "men only" jobs increased. Kay did one of these jobs when she was employed by Allison Engine Company in Indianapolis building aircraft engines such as the V1710, perhaps the most famous aircraft engine in American Aviation history. She remained there until after the war then went to work at Cincinnati Milling Machine Company [now Cincinnati Milicron].
Kay died in 1953 after being accidently injured in a fall resulting from an epileptic seizure. She was 34.
Family Members
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MoMM1 Edgar Anthony "Ed" Bessler
1913–1944
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Marcella Josephine Sister Agnes Bessler
1914–1938
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Joseph Clement "Clem" Bessler
1915–2001
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Alfrieda Magdalena "Frieda" Bessler Spiegel
1917–2013
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Clarence Frank "Dick" Bessler
1922–1980
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Leona Estella Bessler Kellerman
1928–2003
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Ruth Ann Bessler Bretnitz
1932–2014
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