Obituaries
Joseph T. Lester, Jr.
Joseph Thomas Lester, Jr., devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on November 17, 2009, at age 86 in the Willow Valley Retirement Community. He was born in Jacksonville, FL on January 31, 1923, to parents Joseph Thomas Lester and Florence Wilson Lester, now deceased. Joe had one sister, Mary Alice Lester Poekel, of Essex Fells NJ, who passed away in 2004. He was married to his beloved wife, Margaret “Monni” Sanders Clark Lester (formerly of Cleveland Heights, OH) for 58 years. In addition to his wife Monni, Joe is survived by his four children, Joseph T. Lester, III of Reno, NV, Martha Lester Harris and husband Randolph J. Harris of Lancaster, PA, Mary Lester Zerbe and husband Grant N. Zerbe of Lustre, MT, and Susan Lester Busch and husband Ross M. Busch of Spokane, WA. Joe was a loving grandfather to seven grandchildren, 3 boys and 4 girls, ranging in ages from 10 to 26 years old.
Joe served as an Ensign in the US Navy during WWII and was stationed in Philadelphia. He received a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering in 1944 and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1946 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in Cambridge, MA. Joe worked as a Mechanical Engineer for the DuPont Corporation in Wilmington, DE for 31 years where he pioneered the use of computers in engineering. During his career, he was active in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and served as DuPont’s representative to Computer-Aided Manufacturing International (CAM-I). He retired in 1984.
After residing in Wilmington, DE for 46 years, Joe and Monni moved to Lancaster County in 1999 and resided at Willow Valley Retirement Communities. An advocate for technical careers throughout his life, Joe traveled to schools teaching students about the importance of studying science and math.
In 2001, Joe taught math at Lustre Christian High School in Montana where his grandson was inspired to pursue a career in engineering. Clayton James Zerbe, his oldest grandson, is now employed as a civil engineer in Billings, Montana.
From 2003 to 2007, Joe spoke directly to more than 1500 students in 53 classes throughout central PA. In 2007, the Central Pennsylvania Engineers Council honored him with the John H. McCormick Educational Outreach Award in recognition of the outstanding work he did as a retired engineer to inform students about the important work that engineers do. In presenting him with the outreach award, the Committee noted that “Joe helps low income students envision a different future when they are still young enough to make positive choices for the future.”
A life-long learner, photographer and lover of American history, Joe and Monni traveled to many historical sites at home and abroad. They were skilled in personal, original re-enactments of the lives of George and Martha Washington and James and Dolly Madison, which they presented to dozens of church and senior groups in Delaware and Pennsylvania over the past 20 years. Joe was also an avid woodworker whose elegant turnings of bowls and candleholders grace the tables of many friends and family members. His specially designed, Swedish-inspired wooden mugs and bowls were commissioned by the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation and are displayed aboard the recreated 17th century Dutch sailing ship, Kalmar Nyckel, harbored near Wilmington, DE.
A dedicated Christian, Joe was active in church throughout his life. He and his wife are members of Lampeter United Methodist Church.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 11am at Lampeter United Methodist Church 1651 Book Rd. Lancaster, PA 17602. Friends and family will be received from 10am to the time of the service at the church. Interment will be private with Military Honors at Willow St. UCC Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Water Street Rescue Mission, 210 S. Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 and Lampeter United Methodist Church. Arrangement made by Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Lancaster, PA 717-393-9661. To send the family online condolences please visit snyderfuneralhome.com
Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page
It is with sincere sympathy we mourn the loss of Joe Lester and celebrate the wonderful life he lived and shared with his family and fellow man.
As a fellow sailor and engineer, I always enjoyed our time catching up on technology and life.
To his surviving family, thank you for sharing Joe outside of your family and the wonderful contributions he made to our lives and our world for betterment of mankind.
We are personally delighted to have shared Joe Lester through his daughter, Mary, who married my brother Grant, moved to the remote regions of rural Montana, raised a family of 4 wonderful children and, in true Joe Lester fashion, shares her life and efforts with the larger community of mankind.
And, as noted in the obituary, Joe’s contributions will live on through his children, grand children and those he spent time with sharing and awakening the beauty and value of the world of science, engineering & technology.
In sympathy of loss and celebration of a full life,
Neil, Gail E., Paul & Susana Zerbe
Dearest Lester family,
Ginnie forwarded the message to me of our dear friend’s passing. Please know that my love and sympathy are with you. I can picture Joe and my Tom up in heaven, bantering back and forth as they used to do, and I’m sure that Joe is busy introducing and endearing himself to all he meets along the way. What a dear, sweet, kind man! I will miss him, and I send to you all condolences and wishes for deepest comfort in the memories you share.
Most lovingly,
Anne Wills
Joseph Thomas Lester Jr.’s passing is a great loss to his relatives and everyone that knew him.
Cousin Nancy Lester Viohl
To the family,
I have know Joe and Margret for sometime now and I have never met such an outstanding couple, I am so sorry for your loss. I am a teller with the Pnc bank at Kendig Square, I have always looked forward to seeing them or Joe come in, always a nice word and a joke from him. He will surely be missed. What a great man. My condolence to all the family members.
Sincerley,
Phyllis Dellinger
We are keeping the Lester family in our thoughts and prayers.
The word devoted – or any other word – just doesn’t convey the measure of love, warmth, caring, and commitment that we experienced in knowing Joe. He was a great Christlike example to us in how he loved and cared for his family.
Kim and I have been blessed to spend many times with the Lester family. Joe was so gracious to include us. We will miss him but will see him again.
Ward & Kim Zerbe & family
Martha & Family:
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you celebrate the life of your father. While reading of his accomplishments and contributions, it became apparent to me where your drive comes from.
At this time of Thanksgiving, I think of you as you grieve your loss, while knowing that he has left a legacy and touched countless lives. For that and much more, I know your family is thankful.
JoAnne Owens-Nauslar
" Dr. Jo"
Lincoln, NE
Such a wonderful Obituary, remembering the life of a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. A full and good life to be remembered. Hope everyone is doing ok. You are all in our hearts and thoughts at this time. Love to all of the Lester family. Deanne, Duane, Jill and Carrie and children. All our love and sympathy
What a beautiful tribute to your father/husband/grandfather this obituary was. Grant was so kind to forward it on to us and give out this web site. I’ve been wanting to get a card in the mail but this will get there MUCH quicker (although Emily Post would probably recommend a hand-written note!)
You have all been in our thoughts and prayers often in the last several weeks and were saddened to hear of Mr. Lester’s passing on Tues. but still rejoicing that he is in heaven with no more pain, cancer, oxygen tank etc.
We were also glad that Grant took time out of his busy schedule to chat on the phone and tell us of some cherished times you’ve have in the last while. My verse this month has been Colossians 2:6,7:
"Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
We know thankfulness if not an easy emotion right now but with the memorial service on Thanksgiving week, I thought I would share it with you.
Our love to all,
Dan and Meredith Reddig
Dear Martha,
I’m so sorry to hear about the death of your father. This must be a very difficult time for all of you. I remember so clearly the afternoon we spent with you and your family where we had a chance to meet your parents. What a lovely man he was!
May God’s peace surround you, fill you with comfort and love, and may you rest in the assurance of everlasting life.
Faithfully,
Barbara+
Farewell, Uncle Joe. All the family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love, Molly
Martha and family
Our heartfelt sympathies to you all on the loss of your father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
