J. Philip Kesecker
1929-2024
J. Philip Kesecker, a Morgan County, West Virginia real estate broker & developer, died on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Westminster Canterbury in Winchester, Va.
Born August 29, 1929, in Morgan County, he was the son of the late Hattie I. (Weber) & J. Lawrence Kesecker.
A graduate of Berkeley Springs High School, he served four years in the United States Air Force & then attended Hagerstown Junior College & Pittsburgh Barber College. In 1956 he began selling real estate, obtained his broker’s license in 1958 & established an insurance & real estate office in Berkeley Springs. Mr. Kesecker was a member of the Eastern Panhandle Homebuilders Association. His past affiliation with the Eastern Panhandle Board of Realtors included the office of vice-president & a member of the board of directors. In 1996, he sold Kesecker Realty, Inc. & turned his attention to subdivision development & to the sale of Keystone Homes, becoming a builder/dealer in ’96. In 2006 he re-established Kesecker Realty, Inc. & in 2008 turned the business over to his son-in-law. He retired from developing in 2018.
Always interested in the community & the growth of Morgan County, Mr. Kesecker gave much time & service to organizations that enhanced the quality of life in the Eastern Panhandle. He was a past president of the Berkeley Springs Lions Club, the Berkeley Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Morgan County Planning Commission, & the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation. A member of the board of directors of Citizens National Bank since 1965, Mr. Kesecker also served as Chairman of the Board from 1987 to 2008.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church & contributed to & worked on the land project that was addressing the growth of First Church & Morgan County. Mr. Kesecker was involved with the development of Camp Harmison from its inception. He was a member of the DeFord Lodge 88 AF & AM & the Osiris Shrine Temple.
During his working years he looked with pride on his part in the development of many subdivisions in the county. He worked tirelessly for community projects that improved the lives of the citizens of Morgan County.
Preceding him is his wife of 58 years, Doris (Exline) Kesecker, & brother Hugh.
Surviving is his daughter & son-in-law, Nancy & Michael Pearse, three granddaughters, Brittany, Ashley, and Taylor, and 8 great-grandchildren. Also surviving nephew, Rick, residing in Birmingham, Ala. and his niece, Candace, in Hurricane, W.Va.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 10 a.m. with a memorial service to follow at 11 a.m., held at First United Methodist Church, 49 S. Green Street, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411. Interment will be private.
The family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the Humane Society of Morgan County, P.O. Box 705, Berkeley Springs, WV, First United Methodist Church, 49 S. Green St., Berkeley Springs, WV, or the charity of one’s choice.
Please visit obituaries and tribute wall at ompsfuneralhome.com.
