Max William Kistler

Max (Bill to his family and hometown friends) was born in Rushville, IL, on August 27, 1920 to Max and Ruby Kistler. He had two younger siblings, Nancy Kistler Pryor (Jerry) of Rushville, and was preceded in death by his brother George (Brenda). Max graduated from Rushville High School in 1938 and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati. He was a First Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers during WWII, serving most of the war in Okinawa.

Max met his future wife Virginia (Ginger) Prince, a Navy WAVE, while stationed in Seattle and they were married on December 11, 1944. After the war they settled in Rochester, NY, and had three children, Carolyn, William, and Thomas.

Max joined the American Brake Shoe Co. as a mechanical engineer where he worked in product development and was responsible for several patents. In July 1960 the company, now Abex Inc., promoted Max to Vice President of its aerospace division and he was transferred to Oxnard, CA, where he served as general manager of the company’s new manufacturing facility. During the mid 1960’s Max ran Abex’s operation in Montreal, Canada. He returned to Camarillo in 1970, retired from Abex, and invested in and ran Coastal Pipco in Oxnard. Following his retirement, he and Ginger spent much of their time traveling until her death in 1996.

Max found the second love of his life in Rhea Hudson who shared his passion for golf and travel and they were married on May 23, 1998 in Ventura and held a second marriage ceremony on June 3, 1998 in Paris, France. Their marriage lasted until Rhea’s death earlier this year.

Max was an avid golfer and early member of Las Posas Country Club and active in the vestry at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Camarillo.

Max is survived by his children, Lynn, Bill (Ulrike), and Tom, as well as grandchildren Paul (Michelle) Runnells, Kate (Jason) Runnells Quinata, Rebecca Kistler and Max Kistler. He also leaves six great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and many close friends.

No services are planned. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, www.lmvna.org.