This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8186.1 Message Board Post: News Review newspaper Ridgecrest CA Kern County June 8, 2005 RICHARD EDWIN "DR K" KISTLER Longtime local resident andkey member of the China Lake management team for many years, Richard Edwin "Dr K" Kistler died at Ridgecrest Healthcare Center Tuesday, May 3, 2005. He was 73. A memorial service was held May 18 at Immanuel Christian Ministry Center. Donations in his memory may be sent to D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, PO Box 9, Glendale CA 91209. Dr. K was born June 20, 1931 to Samluel Edwin and Jewel Marguerite Kistler in Ludington, Mich. He spent most of his early years in Oregon. A graduate of Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore. he received a bachelor's degree, cum laude, in mathematics in 1952 and four years later earned a master's degree in education with honors from the University of Portland. He joined the civilian work force at China Lake in 1962 receiving a doctorate in management science from Stanford University in 1964. In the eight years he worked with the Weapons Planning Group his responsibilities grew from those of an operations research analyst to those of project leader and program director for antiair warfare studies. He served as the associate for resource management for three years prior to becoming the head of the Office of Finance and Management and China Lake Comptroller in June 1975. After 12 years he returned to the Weapons PlanningGroup contributing a broad range of studies impacting base realignment, consolidation and reorganization efforts. During his 33 year career at China Lake he recieved numerous prestigious awards such as the Navy Superior Civilian Service and Meritorious Civilian Service Awards, the Michelson Laboratory Award and the Commander's Award. His friends and colleagues will remember him for his excellent writing skills, extraordinary analytical ability, sense of humor and mentoring of others. He was a quiet man who spoke by action. "You were always a sincere and dedicated individual who made me feel secure just knowing that you were only a few steps away from my office," wrote former China Lake Commander Captain W.B. Haff on the occasion of Dr. K's 1996 retirement. "China Lake had a wealth of outstanding people who made my job much easier and you were one of the very best..." "First, last and always, you were a gentleman of quiet dignity who stood out in my book as a quality individual. You were above and beyond your peers and most of them knew it, to their chagrin. The center was fortunate to have your services and as a former commander I sincerely appreciated having you on the team." "Your clear thinking, extraordinary ability in organizing and communication difficult subject matter and consitent willingness to help on the toughest assignments have been a positive model for many people," wrote former Commander Rear Admiral D.B. McKinney, USN Ret. "You have definitely made a difference to China Lake and many of its employees." His wife of 46 years Marianne Kistler who came with him to China Lake in 1962 had this to say: "As for me I always wondered how I was so lucky to find such a kind and gentle man as Dick was." The couple had no children. From thetime he was a child Dr. K was a fan of baseball especially the Detroit Tigers. He knew the names of all the players and all the box scores for each member. He could quote the scores if asked and he learned a lot of math figuring out the batting averages of the players. He enjoyed gardening, tinkering with his old cars - a 1949 Crosley and a 1952 Hudson Wasp sedan - bird watching, traveling and his dogs. He is survived by his wife Marianne of Ridgecrest, sister Joan Skadsen and husband Ralph, niece Janice Skadsen and husband Jim and their two daughters Julia and Rachel, all of Ann Arbor, Mich, brother-in-law Paul and wife Joannie McKeown. Information provided by the family of Richard Kistler