Homer Leroy Keisler

Homer Leroy Keisler was born 27 May 1924 to Henry W. and Mary O. Keisler and was the youngest of five children. Prior to graduation from high school, he also entered aeronautics training and upon his 18th birthday was awarded his Federal Aircraft and Power Plant mechanic license. He joined the Army Air Corps Reserve before WWII and worked as a mechanic at numerous Air Corps Pilot Training Stations. He was accepted as an aviation cadet in 1943 and graduated (Class of 44K) as an officer and pilot and assigned the duties of B-24 pilot and assistant aircraft maintenance officer.

Lt. Keisler was discharged from the Army Air Corps in 1945. He was then employed as an agricultural crop duster pilot with Shealy's Dusting Company for 10 years. He joined the SC Air National Guard in 1947 where he flew P-51 fighters and attended the University of South Carolina. In 1950, he was recalled to active-duty military service during the Korean Conflict and was assigned the duties of F84B jet pilot and forward aircraft controller. He was discharged from active duty in 1952 whereupon he returned to duties as a member of the SC Air National Guard and to his civilian crop duster occupation. In 1956, he attended the Air Force Maintenance Officers School at Chanute AFB and graduated in 1957. Later in 1957, he completed Aircraft Control Tower training and was certified and licensed by the FAA as an Aircraft Control Tower operator. He was employed as Chief of the control tower operations at Congaree Air Base with the additional duty of assistant aircraft maintenance officer. In 1961, he was appointed Chief of Aircraft Maintenance for the 169th Fighter Group and was again recalled with the unit to active duty during the Berlin Crisis. The unit was equipped with the Mach 2+ F104’s at that time. He returned to inactive duty with the SC Air National Guard in 1962 and resumed his military position and civil service employment as Chief of Aircraft Maintenance. He was selected to attend the Aircraft Accident Investigation School at the University of Southern California and the Flying Safety Officers School at UCLA. He was appointed the additional duty of Aircraft Accident Investigator by the Air National Guard Bureau and served on several accident investigation boards.

During his Reserve and active-duty tours, he was privileged to fly more than 42 different types of single and multi-engine airplanes including fighters, bombers, and cargo aircraft and served as instructor and operational test pilot on several types. A defining flight was his first supersonic flight in an F86A a little more than 50 years after the Wright brothers flew their first airplane.

He served over 36.5 years of duty in US Air Corps and US Air Force active and reserve units and retired as Colonel from duty in 1979. He was a long-time active member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the local EAA Chapter 242. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, many summer Sunday afternoons were spent giving free flights to neighbors and their friends in an open cockpit biplane from the landing strip on the farm where he was born and lived all his life.

He was a past president of the Lexington County Livestock Association and served as a director of the Lexington County Farm Bureau. Homer Leroy Keisler was a long-time active member of Pisgah Lutheran Church and served several terms as a council member and as the Church Treasurer during one building program.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 72 years, Evelyn Roof Keisler, and three children, Gerald L. Keisler (Lynn A. Keisler), Dr. Duane H. Keisler (Dr. Lydia W. Keisler), and Susan K. Jordan (Richard Jordan).

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at Pisgah Lutheran Church with interment to follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Keisler family.