Waldo Collins Lester, Sr., 89, began life anew in the presence of the Lord on Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Mr. Lester spent the last three years of his life defying all expectations as he triumphed over a diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia. After a sudden, unexpected illness he passed away peacefully at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home having spent the last days of his life surrounded by family and friends.

Waldo C. Lester was born on July 29, 1923 in Florence Villa, Florida to the late Ephraim Ellis and Elizabeth Coleman Lester. He was the oldest of their three children. When he was teenager his family moved to Winston-Salem, where he was educated in the public schools. He was a proud graduate of Atkins High School. As a young man he was drafted to serve in the Armed Forces of the Unites States of America. He served proudly for more than twenty-five years having served first in the Army Air Corps and then in the United States Air Force. During his career he was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he met his wife and life partner, the late Marjorie Thurston Lester, Guam, Thailand, Chicago, Illinois, Virginia, Korea, Charleston, South Carolina, Korea, Vietnam and Itazuke, Japan. When he could his family was stationed with him, when he couldn't his wife and children remained in Winston-Salem. During his career he attained the rank of Master Sergeant and was an honorably discharged Disabled American Veteran. Mr. Lester was a veteran of three foreign wars, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

After his retirement from the Air Force, Waldo returned to North Carolina A & T State University, where he had been a student when he was drafted, to complete his education. In 1978 he received his Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and was a proud (former) member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). He was also a (former) member of the Winston-Salem Sportsman Club, the VFW Post, the American Legion and several Bridge and Pinochle Clubs. . During his retirement years Mr. Lester was a substitute teacher for the WS/FC School System and a security guard at the old Katie B. Reynolds Hospital. He was a member for more than 72 years of Hanes Memorial CME Church, having served as a member of the Steward Board and as past President of the Senior Citizen's Club.

Mr. Lester was a resident of Bradford Village West in Kernersville at the time of his passing. In addition to being preceded in death by his parents and his wife, the late Marjorie Thurston Lester, he was also preceded in death by his oldest daughter, Mrs. Sylena E. Nesbitt, his youngest daughter, Ms. Sheila T. Kennedy, his youngest grandson, Mr. LeeVonne C. Lester, Sr., his brother, Mr. Preston K. Lester, and his stepmother, Rev. Anna Carter Lester.

Mr. Lester is survived by his children, Marjorie L. Brannon, Hampton, VA., Yvonne L. Thacker, Phyllis A. Lester, both of Winston-Salem, and Waldo C. Lester, Jr. (Dana) of Lutz, Florida; his sister and brother-in-law, Bertha L. Farmer and Anthony Farmer of Enfield, NC; his son-in-law, John D. Nesbitt, Sr. of W-S; eight grandchildren, who despite their advancing ages affectionately called him Papa, Robert E. Brannon, Jr. (Natalie) of Chester, VA, Kimberly D. Nesbitt, Sheila W. Nesbitt, Tanya D. Thacker, Ronald Brannon, of Hampton, VA., John D. Nesbitt, Jr. (Stephanie), Jennifer A. Thacker, and Taylor V. Lester, Lutz of Florida; several great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law, Sterling P. Thurston (Mimi) of Olympia, WA; a sister-in-law, Rosemary Thurston of Vallejo, CA; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and his childhood friend and teammate, Mr. Henry A. Wilson of W-S.

A celebration of Mr. Lester's life will be held at 1:00pm, Monday, April 29, 2013 at Hanes Memorial CME Church with the Reverend Clarence W. Cox, III officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. There will be a family visitation hour at 12noon on Monday at the Church.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Children's Ministry of Hanes Memorial CME Church, 819 N. Highland Ave, WSNC 27101.

The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the kind people at Bradford Village West, the Danby House, Springwood Care Center, the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home and the doctors and nurses at WFU Baptist Medical Center, 4th floor Reynolds Tower ICU and the Palliative Care Unit.