1922
Jackie
2013
Jackie Coogan Lester
April 4, 1922 — July 27, 2013
Jackie Coogan Lester passed on July 27th, 2013. Born in Lester's Cove in Tazewell County, Va. April 4th, 1922, he was 91 years old.
He was the son of Benjamin Harrison and Myrtle Bell Horne Lester. He was later adopted and raised by Frank Bundy Lester, Mozelle Lester, and step-mother Lillian Rush Lester after his mother's death.
He attended Cleveland Elementary, Virginia Junior High, and graduated from Tazewell High School. He then attended two years at Bluefield College before entering the military in WWII; serving with the 1913th Army Engineer Aviation Battalion in the Pacific Theater. He was a staff sergeant and received the Purple Heart Medal.
Mr. Lester worked and retired from the Virginia Department of Highway in the Materials Division as Assistant Materials Engineer after 44 years of service. He was a member of Reynolds Memorial Church and the Shelby Masonic Lodge #162.
He was preceded in death by his parents and step-mother, Sarah Chapman Lester, adopted father and mother, Frank Bundy Lester and his wife Lillian Rush and adopted Mother Mozelle Lester; brother, Benjamin "Buss" Harrison Lester, Jr.; sister, Elizabeth Lester Ascue; and half brothers and sister, Harry, Herbert and Polly Lester.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Peggy Stringer Lester; children, Rev. Tommy Franklin Lester and wife Mary Jean of Colonial Heights, VA, Martha Virginia Lester and fiancÃ?©e Dee Carrier of Bristol, VA, his ââ?¬Ë?Ole Buddy' Jack Harrison Lester, and Billy Allen Lester and his wife Marcie of Bristol, Va; grandchildren, Ryan and John David Lester of Colonial Heights, VA; step grandchildren, Jessica Sykes, Matthew Rose and Bee Akers, of Bristol, VA; sisters, Billie ââ?¬Ë?Bundy' Lester Cassell and Boyd of Mechanicsville, Va., Virginia Lester Brown; half sister, Ruth Lester Lee; special cousins, Jean Mustard Whitt, Rita Mustard Senn , Harry Howard, and James Calvin Lester; several beloved nieces and nephews; brother-in-law, Joe Stringer; and sisters-in-law, Judy Cress Stringer, Beulah Thompson Stringer, Jean Smith Stringer, and Billie Nichols Stringer.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Knollkreg Memorial Park with Rev. Tommy Lester and Pastor Scott Price officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by the Virginia National Guard. Those wishing to travel in procession to the cemetery are asked to convene at the funeral home by 10:30 a.m.
Pallbearers will be Eddie Stringer, Hugh Stringer, Johnny Birkhead, Claud Hoskins, Dee Carrier, Steve Hebert, Wade Latham, Johnny Stringer, and Alan Hart. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Ray Stringer, David Stringer, Bruce Volek, Joe Campbell, John Thacker, Tom Scott, Joe Burnette, Mickey Rich, James Allen Stringer, and past and present employees of the VDOT Materials Division Bristol, Va.
Visitation with the family will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register.
The family would like to thank the employees of Bristol Regional Medical Center emergency room, second floor, third floor west, ICU and the Life Saving Crew for taking such good care of him and the family. Special thanks to Dr. Jeffery Ginther, Becky Ginther, Carolyn Willis and our dear cousin, Carol White. All worked tirelessly and never gave up helping him and the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Meadowview United Methodist Church (Johnny Stringer Tuition Fund or Mary's Kitchen), 29043 Walker Lane, Meadowview, VA 24361, or to the Bristol Life Saving Crew, 1601 Euclid Ave. Bristol, Va.24201. Flowers will also be accepted if desired.
The Lester family is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.
He was the son of Benjamin Harrison and Myrtle Bell Horne Lester. He was later adopted and raised by Frank Bundy Lester, Mozelle Lester, and step-mother Lillian Rush Lester after his mother's death.
He attended Cleveland Elementary, Virginia Junior High, and graduated from Tazewell High School. He then attended two years at Bluefield College before entering the military in WWII; serving with the 1913th Army Engineer Aviation Battalion in the Pacific Theater. He was a staff sergeant and received the Purple Heart Medal.
Mr. Lester worked and retired from the Virginia Department of Highway in the Materials Division as Assistant Materials Engineer after 44 years of service. He was a member of Reynolds Memorial Church and the Shelby Masonic Lodge #162.
He was preceded in death by his parents and step-mother, Sarah Chapman Lester, adopted father and mother, Frank Bundy Lester and his wife Lillian Rush and adopted Mother Mozelle Lester; brother, Benjamin "Buss" Harrison Lester, Jr.; sister, Elizabeth Lester Ascue; and half brothers and sister, Harry, Herbert and Polly Lester.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Peggy Stringer Lester; children, Rev. Tommy Franklin Lester and wife Mary Jean of Colonial Heights, VA, Martha Virginia Lester and fiancÃ?©e Dee Carrier of Bristol, VA, his ââ?¬Ë?Ole Buddy' Jack Harrison Lester, and Billy Allen Lester and his wife Marcie of Bristol, Va; grandchildren, Ryan and John David Lester of Colonial Heights, VA; step grandchildren, Jessica Sykes, Matthew Rose and Bee Akers, of Bristol, VA; sisters, Billie ââ?¬Ë?Bundy' Lester Cassell and Boyd of Mechanicsville, Va., Virginia Lester Brown; half sister, Ruth Lester Lee; special cousins, Jean Mustard Whitt, Rita Mustard Senn , Harry Howard, and James Calvin Lester; several beloved nieces and nephews; brother-in-law, Joe Stringer; and sisters-in-law, Judy Cress Stringer, Beulah Thompson Stringer, Jean Smith Stringer, and Billie Nichols Stringer.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Knollkreg Memorial Park with Rev. Tommy Lester and Pastor Scott Price officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by the Virginia National Guard. Those wishing to travel in procession to the cemetery are asked to convene at the funeral home by 10:30 a.m.
Pallbearers will be Eddie Stringer, Hugh Stringer, Johnny Birkhead, Claud Hoskins, Dee Carrier, Steve Hebert, Wade Latham, Johnny Stringer, and Alan Hart. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Ray Stringer, David Stringer, Bruce Volek, Joe Campbell, John Thacker, Tom Scott, Joe Burnette, Mickey Rich, James Allen Stringer, and past and present employees of the VDOT Materials Division Bristol, Va.
Visitation with the family will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register.
The family would like to thank the employees of Bristol Regional Medical Center emergency room, second floor, third floor west, ICU and the Life Saving Crew for taking such good care of him and the family. Special thanks to Dr. Jeffery Ginther, Becky Ginther, Carolyn Willis and our dear cousin, Carol White. All worked tirelessly and never gave up helping him and the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Meadowview United Methodist Church (Johnny Stringer Tuition Fund or Mary's Kitchen), 29043 Walker Lane, Meadowview, VA 24361, or to the Bristol Life Saving Crew, 1601 Euclid Ave. Bristol, Va.24201. Flowers will also be accepted if desired.
The Lester family is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jackie Coogan Lester, please visit our flower store.
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