Aaron Banks Lester

He was born Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1936, at Summit, Georgia, a son of the late Howard Palmer Lester and Mildred Avis Grimes Lester Dry.

On Nov. 4, 1966, he married the love of his life, Brenda Joyce Roy Lester, who preceded him in death on Jan. 22, 2022. They had celebrated 55 years of marriage and he longed for the day that they could be together again.

He is survived by four children, Gary Dean Lester and wife, Shirley, of Hendricks, Melony Dawn Lester Flanagan and husband, Mike, of Hambleton, Diana “DeeDee” Christine Lester Kesecker and husband, Mike, of Hambleton and Aaron Carl Moore and wife, Shauntel, of Parsons; eight grandchildren, Gary Dean Lester Jr. and wife, Heather, Katie Marie Lester, Cory Allen Lester, John Michael DelSignore Jr. and wife, Laken, Caleb Brant Flanagan, Collin Michael Flanagan, Justin Seth Crosten and wife, Emily, and Alyssa Brooke Parsons and husband, Daniel; and 10 great grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were one brother, Wilford Herschel Lester; and two sisters, Ona Pearl Williams, and Mary Dean Dasher.

He graduated in 1953 in North Carolina then went on to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Navy. During his 36 1/2 years of service, he was assigned to the USS Frank Evans from June 1956-September 1956, the USS John Thomason from August 1961-July 1963, and the USS Saratoga from April 1969-April 1971. Some of his accomplishments throughout his career include Yeoman school in San Diego, California, serving for the Secretary of the Navy and the Bureau of Naval personnel in Washington, D.C., becoming a Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Surface Warfare (OP-03), and serving for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Navy Planning Program, and the Naval Historical Foundation in Washington, D.C. He was also a member of the U.S. Navy Band. He got to see the world as his orders took him to California, Korea, Sicily, Guam, England and numerous other places. Of all the wonders he experienced in his travels, his most precious treasures were his beloved wife, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Upon retiring from the Navy, he returned to Hambleton, West Virginia, where he was employed by Lambert’s Chevrolet and Performance Motors in Parsons, West Virginia.

He was known to many as Les or Master Chief, his favorite hobby was golfing. He was a regular at the Holly Meadows Golf Course, where he is known as a legend. He had made eleven hole in one shots there while enjoying his time golfing and telling stories with his golf buddies. He had also won the E9 Golf Tournament. He also enjoyed playing the guitar and singing to his grandchildren. He was a Pentecostal by faith and attended the Hambleton Pentecostal Church of God in Hambleton, West Virginia, where he enjoyed playing his guitar and singing hymns in front of the congregation. He was a generous man who had opened his home to many throughout his life. His humor and quick wit were second to none. He will be sadly missed by everyone who had the honor of knowing him.

The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons, West Virginia, on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

On Friday, morning, Feb. 2, 2024, Mr. Lester will be moved to the Hambleton Pentecostal Church of God in Hambleton, where final rites will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Ordained Minister Joyce Minear with Rivers of Living Waters Ministries in Elkins, West Virginia, will officiate and interment will follow at the West Virginia National Cemetery at Grafton, West Virginia, where full military honors will be accorded by the U. S. Navy and the Taylor County Veterans of Foreign Wars.

he Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Aaron Banks Lester.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.