Ernest Edward Lester

Ernest Edward Lester, 91, of St. Charles, passed away June 5 at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was born in Jacob, Ill. on December 18, 1920 to Frank and Inez (Hamilton) Lester. He graduated from Gorham High School in 1939. He received his teaching certificate from SIU in Carbondale in 1941. In 1950 he received his Bachelor’s in Elementary and Supervisory Education from Western Illinois State College in Macomb, IL. While in Macomb he also became a Licensed Funeral Home Director and Embalmer thinking he may want to pursue a career in that field at some time. He remained in education and earned his Specialist Degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Ernie served as an elementary school principal in Illinois at three schools: Mifflin, a one room school house for grades 1-8 in Jacob; Hersman in Mt Sterling; and McArthur in Macomb in 1952. He accepted a position in the Ferguson-Florissant (R-2) School District as principal of Central School in Ferguson from 1956-1967 and Duschesne in Florissant for 18 years where he retired in 1986 after 30 years of service. He served as the President of the R-2 Credit Union. Summers were spent farming near his birthplace on his parents land near Gorham, IL. Ernie never considered himself retired and continued to work/play at his favorite passions: buying, selling and repairing cars; buying, repairing and renting homes; and farmer-turned-gardener growing some of the finest vegetables and sunflowers around. He served in the US Navy during WWII stationed in Guam as a medic from 1943-1945. He was active in the American Legion. Beloved husband of Elizabeth (Lammert) Lester, loving father of Ronald and Janice (Miller), Ellen (Lester) and James Mains, Dianne (Lester) and Timothy Wynn, and Daniel and Mary Zeis; dearest grandfather of Aaron; Daniel and Vaan (Truong) Sheahan; Jarrod Mains; Troy Slaten; Andrew; Tyler Mains and Alexandria; dear great –grandfather of Cooper, dear brother in-law, uncle and friend to many. Visitation at Hutchens Funeral Home in Florissant on Friday, Aug 3, 4-8 PM. Ernie’s Celebration of Life Mass Saturday, Aug 4 @ 11AM at St. Cletus Catholic Church, 2705 Zumbehl Rd, St. Charles. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Disabled American Veterans and Medical Education Resources Initiative for Teens (MERIT).

Ernest Edward Lester

December 18, 1920 - June 5, 2012