Obituary of Arnold Kent Lester

Arnold Kent Lester Sr. passed away at Glenbridge Health and Rehab on October 5, 2017 at 96 years of age. Born in Rayford, Virginia, he was preceded in death by his father, Sherman Luther Lester, his mother, Nannie Pernie Weddle Lester, an older brother, Ray, and his wife of 65 years, Erline Kegley Lester. He is survived by Ray�s wife, Bernadine, younger brother, Marvin and wife, Betty Jo, a daughter, Ellen Lester Arnold and husband, Chip, a son, Arnold Kent Lester, Jr., and wife, Penny, two grandchildren, Matthew Edwin Arnold (Leigh Jolley) and Elizabeth Arnold Hull (Andy Hull), one great-granddaughter, Ashleigh Merrow Arnold, and his devoted companion, Ruby Arnold, and many much loved nephews and nieces. Arnold was inducted into the Army Air Corp in 1943 and instructed bomber pilots during WWII. After his discharge in 1945 he continued to teach flying at Spence Air Base in Moultrie, Georgia. Later he worked for Riverside Manufacturing for 30 years. He moved to Boone almost nine years ago, and became active with the Disabled American Veterans and the High Country WWII Roundtable History Project. In 2012, he was proud to be part of the Watauga County Honor Air Flight to Washington, DC. The family will receive friends to celebrate Arnolds� life on Tuesday, October 10th, from 3 until 4:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. A memorial gathering will be held at Stevens Funeral Home in Pulaski on Nov. 4, 2017 at 3 PM. The family respectfully requests no flowers and suggests memorials to Watauga County Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 33, DTS, Boone, NC 28607. Online condolences may be shared at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Lester family.