formerly of Silver Maples in Chelsea and Ann Arbor, age 87, died Sunday, November 20, 2016 at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital. He was born Sept. 18, 1929 in Bristol, VA, the son of James Walker & Estelle (Pippen) Lester, Sr. Jim was born and raised in Bristol, Virginia, but lived most of his adult life in the Ann Arbor area after coming to the U of M in 1953. He received a degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1949, and an MBA from the University of Michigan in 1958. Jim worked for a number of engineering/technology firms over the years including General Electric, Bendix, Conductron, KMS Industries, and Kaiser Optical Systems (where he spent the last 17 years of his career, retiring in 1997). All were in the Ann Arbor area except for General Electric.
Obituaries
James Walker Lester, Jr.
Jim was an Eagle Scout, and served as a commissioned officer in the Army during the Korean War. He was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor. He served as trustee, treasurer, committee member, and in other capacities for numerous organizations. Most notably, he served as the Treasurer for the Ann Arbor Rotary for over 30 years. His hobbies included woodworking, sailing a sunfish sailboat he had built himself, and collecting stamps and coins.
On August 28, 1954 he married Elizabeth “Betty” Bates, and she preceded him in death on August 2, 2015. Survivors include two sons, David (Rebecca) of Springhill, TN, Jamie (Shannan) of Coldwater, MI; two grandchildren, Eric and Drew Lester; a brother Thomas (Brenda) Lester of La Jolla, CA.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, Dec. 1, 1:30 pm at Cole Funeral Chapel in Chelsea, with Rev. Kathy Schell officiating. A private burial be held at the Ann Arbor First United Methodist Church Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to Silver Maples Scholarship Fund.