George Edward Lester

George Edward Lester was born February 18, 1926, in Vivian, Louisiana. Eddie, as he was called by his family, was born son to James Pryor Lester and Lessie Lenora Williams Lester, and brother to Samuel Clyde Lester. George was welcomed into his Glory with Jesus Christ in Paradise on January 12, 2024.

George attended Union Grove High School in Gladewater, Texas.

In 1942, George enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in the Pacific until the end of World War II as a member of the Marine Corps Band.

After the war, George worked in civil service at the Red River Arsenal in New Boston, Texas, and the Red Stone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.

In 1953 George began his career in radio broadcasting, a decades-long career that put him on the air in cities such as San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Omaha, Nashville, and Seattle.

In life outside of work and, performing, George enjoyed playing golf, often five times a week, exercising, and riding his motorcycle.

In 1970, George, with his then wife, Barbara, welcomed their daughter Kathy into the family. George spoke often of the good times he and Kathy shared when she was young.

George discovered that he was an avid performer and he found himself onstage for many performances in the community theatre in Liberty Texas, in such productions as The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance. George’s performing did not end there as he began singing for the residents at various nursing homes, something he did until just a few months ago. George’s love and knack for performing led him back to the stage singing and joking for the fans of the Dogwood Jamboree in Palestine, Texas. George performed at the Dogwood Jamboree for many years.

In 1997, George reacquainted himself with a former classmate from elementary school. He and Lillian “Penny” were married on September 3, 1997, and were together until she preceded him to her Glory in Christ Jesus in 2013.

Of all the roles George played in life, both onstage and off, his most beloved role was that of Grandpa to Kaitlyn Laurie Howe, and Kevin Laurie. From a very young age, Kaitlyn and Kevin loved going to visit Grandpa and Penny at their home in Elkhart, Texas. His move from Palestine to Deer Park this past Thanksgiving was for the singular purpose to spend the time he had left with his grandchildren and their families: Kaitlyn, her husband Michael, and their daughter Averie Faith, and Kevin, his wife Miranda, and their daughter Mila-Rae Joy. The time he had with these loved ones brought him his greatest joy. Of his great-granddaughters, Averie and Mila, George said, “They have just stolen my heart.”

George is survived by his daughter, Katherine Robertson, and her husband Heath of Baytown, Texas, son David Lester of San Antonio, Texas, granddaughter, Kaitlyn Laurie Howe, her husband Michael, and their daughter Averie Faith, grandson Kevin Laurie, his wife Miranda, and their daughter Mila-Rae Joy, and their father John Laurie and his wife Lori, of Deer Park, Texas.