George William Lester
George William Lester of Waynesboro, VA, departed this life at 4:00 AM on Friday, June 22nd, 2024. He was born on February 4, 1947, in Waynesboro, VA, at the old hospital on West Main Street. He graduated with the Class of 1965 at Waynesboro High School. He maintained friendships with many of his classmates as an adult and enjoyed visiting them at their reunions. He next graduated from The Virginia Military Institute as a member of the Class of 1969 where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He was also commissioned as a reserve officer in the United States Army upon graduation from VMI. He then began his 34-year career as an engineer with E.I. duPont de Nemours and Co. at the Waynesboro Plant after graduation. He was called to active duty in 1970 and served with the US Army Engineer Corps in Vietnam from 1971 to 1972 as a First Lieutenant. Upon discharge he returned to Dupont in Waynesboro until he retired on 2/1/2003. He immediately returned to the plant as a contract engineer for 6 more years. George was a Registered Professional Engineer in Virginia and a life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He was also a 20-year member of The American Legion at Post 340.
George married Donna A. Falls who survives of Waynesboro, VA, on May 15, 1970, in the Hermitage Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Warren Brannon. She was the daughter of Grafton Staige Falls and Eleanor Cook Falls. She was the love of his life as evidenced by their recent 54th wedding anniversary. They had two children, W. Clark Lester (Barbara Cermak- wife) of Waynesboro, VA. and Rachel Erin Lester Grant (Jeremy Grant - husband) of Davie, FL. Their step-grandchildren are Paige Baedke of Blacksburg, VA, Chris Grant of Panama City, FL, and Peyton Grant of Offutt AFB, Nebraska.
George attended Hermitage Presbyterian Church. His interests were vacationing in Florida, The Great American West, and Williamsburg, VA. He enjoyed reading historical books and visiting historical sites. He was a life-long fan of the VMI Keydets, Boston Red Sox, and Washington Redskins. He enjoyed watching them on TV and in person.
George was the son of the late William Louis Lester and Wanda Diehl Lester of Waynesboro, VA. His roots extend back to the early Scots-Irish, English, and German settlers of the Great Valley of Virginia. His two siblings are Cathy Lester (O. Douglas Bosserman - husband) of Fishersville, VA, and Timothy Charles Lester (Carolyn Rittenhouse - wife), of Mechanicsville, VA. George is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A graveside service which is open to friends and family will be conducted in Augusta Memorial Park at 11:00 AM, on Saturday, June 29th 2024 by Rev. Larry Roberts. Following the graveside service, a church service and visitation with the family will be held at 12:30 PM on Saturday, June 29th 2024, at the Hermitage Presbyterian Church.
Special thanks are extended to Dr. Louise Man, MD of UVA Hematology and the UVA Neurological Intensive Care Unit for their valiant efforts. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers can be given to the Rock Steady Boxing Program, an exercise and support group for Parkinson’s Disease at the Staunton YMCA, 708 North Coalter Street, Staunton, VA 24401.
Condolences can be expressed online at McDow Funeral Home’s website at https://www.mcdowfuneralhomeinc.com/
