Rev. Frank Lester Sr. (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Frank Edward Lester, Sr., son of Florence M. and Nellie McCormick Lester, was born May 10, 1936, in Miami, Florida. He departed this life Sunday, July 20, 2014, in his home, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of seventy-eight years, two months, and ten days.
On December 7, 1996, he was united in marriage to DaVetta Williams, and they shared the last seventeen years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a stepson, Sidney Dexter Cummings; a brother, Roy; and a sister, Charlotte.
Frank is survived by his wife, DaVetta, of the home; a son, Frank Lester, Jr., of Niangua, Missouri; two grandchildren, Gabriel and Jordan Lester; a nephew, Paul Thomas, and his wife, Deborah, of the State of Washington; a spiritual daughter, Misse Meekie, and her husband, Robert, of Huntington, Alabama; a spiritual grandson, Dr. Emmanuel Obafemi-Ajayi, and his wife, Tayo, of Lebanon, Missouri; two spiritual great-grandchildren, Joshua and Miriam Obafemi-Ajayi, of Lebanon, Missouri; special friends, Ron and Linda Koehler, of Lebanon, Missouri; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was raised in Pennsylvania, and received his education there. He then served his country faithfully in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Frank began working for the United States Postal Service before being employed by the I. B. M. Corporation. He continued with I.B.M., where he became a technical writer, until retiring after twenty-five years. During those years, he had made his home in Denver, Colorado, and in Arizona. For the last eleven years, he and DaVetta made their home in Lebanon, Missouri.
Frank had made his profession of faith in Christ and was an active member of Lebanon First Assembly of God.
He had been active in the prison ministry in both Jefferson City and Boonville, Missouri, and had served as a chaplain for the Lebanon Fire and Police Departments. He had taught in the Bridging the Gap Program and was involved in bridging the gap between all faiths and especially Judaism and Christianity. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, and liked hunting for elk and antelope. He was an avid reader and especially enjoyed reading the Bible. He also liked eating, playing chess, and spending time with his friends.
Rev. Lester was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and know that his family and friends will treasure the wonderful memories he made for them during his seventy-eight years.
Memorial donations to Project 25:36 Prison Ministry, may be left at the funeral home.
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