Charles F Lester

Charles “Charlie” F. Lester, 99, of Newton died on April 20, 2016.  A joint memorial service for Charles and his wife, Frances, who died in 2012, will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 30, 2016, at the chapel at Newton Village.  The Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory is handling the cremation. 

Charlie, the son of Claude and Lillian (Maupin) Lester, was born on January 28, 1917 in Pleasantville, Iowa.  He graduated from Pleasantville in 1934.  Charlie married Frances Davis on February 7, 1943 in Los Angeles, California.  Charles was serving in the United States Coast Guard from 1941-1946.  One child was born to this union, Gary Lee.

Charlie moved to Newton with his family in 1946 and built their home in 1948. Charlie worked for the Maytag Company for 30 years, retiring in 1976.

Charlie enjoyed carpentry, whittling, skiing, square dancing, and loved to joke with friends and family.  He belonged to the American Legion, the National Woodcarvers Association, and the Woodturners.  He became a resident of Newton Village at the young age of 96.

Survivors are his son, Gary (Beth) Lester of Newton; two grandsons, Chuck (Donna) Lester of Kansas and David (Rachel) Lester of Newton; step-daughter, Kelee Greene of Cadiz, Kentucky; and great-grandchildren, Chuck and Stephanie of Kansas and Harlee and Devin of Newton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife in 2012, two brothers and two sisters.

 Service Information