| Richard E. Koester |
RICHARD E. KOESTER Richard E. Koester
"Dick" died July 30, 2011. He died peacefully at
home after a short illness.
He is survived by his wife Mary of 59 years.
He leaves son Rick (Colette), granddaughters Ciara
(Levi), Alyssa, and Brenna, son John (Janet),
granddaughter Rachel, grandsons Michael and
Daniel. He also leaves his brother Harold Koester,
sister Kay Kirks, nephews Jack, Bob, Michael and
Matthew Kirks and niece Karlyn Carroll as well as
many friends.
Dick grew up in Washington, DC, graduating
from Roosevelt High School, where he was an
outstanding football player and also played on the championship basketball team.
After high school, he served in the US Army from 1943-1946, this included
action in the Pacific theater where he was injured during combat on Okinawa
Island. Despite his injury, he was able to return to Washington DC, where he
attended George Washington University, playing on the GW football in the
positions of both running back and tight end while earning a degree in Civil
Engineering. He received many athletic awards and excelled in academic
endeavors. He was a member of Who's Who, fraternity Sigma Chi, and other
organizations.
Dick was an avid golf player spending time on the links at Manor Country
Club in Rockville, Maryland. He loved to play bridge.
Most of his career was spent in the federal government both at the National
Institutes of Health in Bethesda and at the Environmental Protection Agency in
Washington, DC.
Dick was a devoted and caring husband and a loving, committed, supportive
father to his two sons. He loved and admired his daughters-in-law; and his
grandchildren were the apple of his eye. He was a very faithful, dependable,
quiet man of deep conviction; and always ready to help others. Dick was
committed and dedicated to his church of over 50 years, Saint Mark
Presbyterian.
Visitation will be held at Pumphrey Funeral Home in Bethesda August 12
from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Memorial Services will be August 13 at 4 p.m.,
at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, North
Bethesda, MD 20852.
If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, donations can be
made either to Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 100 Rockville,
MD 20850, or Saint Mark Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden, address of
church.
Please view and sign the family guestbook at
www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com
Published in The Washington Post on August 7, 2011
