Lester E. Andrews Sr.

ANDREWS, Lester E. Sr., of Farmville, died Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at Virginia Baptist Hospital in Lynchburg. He was born on February 3, 1915 in Ettrick, Virginia, to Everett Junious Andrews Sr. and Cora Bowman Andrews. The family, including eight children, moved to Farmville in 1928. Les was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, Frances Price Andrews; two brothers, and three sisters. Surviving this devoted family man are his wife, Donna Peery Andrews; his sons, Lester E. "Andy" Andrews Jr. and his wife, Diane, W. Daniel "Danny" Andrews and his wife, Kathy; his stepson, John W. "Jack" Peery Jr. and his wife, Diane; his stepdaughter, Jill P. Bolinger and her husband, Jim; 10 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; his brother, Earl Andrews and his wife, Peggy, of Petersburg; his sister, Elva Jones and her husband, Thorpe, of Greensboro, N.C.; and many nieces and nephews. Les loved the Farmville Baptist Church, which he joined in 1928. During his years of membership, he served as trustee, chairman of the board of deacons and life deacon. He was also committed to education. He served Hampden-Sydney College, which he attended as a member of the class of 1936, as a trustee and on the board of the Hampden-Sydney Music Festival. Les served on the Board of Visitors of Longwood College, and as president of the Longwood College Foundation. In addition, he served as chairman of the Prince Edward County School Board and on the board of Fuqua School. Les' belief in civic responsibility was evidenced by his leadership and membership in many community organizations. He served as president of the Farmville Jaycees (two years), president of the Farmville Rotary Club, chairman of the March of Dimes, chairman of the United Fund, president of the Farmville Hotel Corporation (board of directors), Board of Managers of the Southside Community Hospital (Executive committee), Board of Directors of Virginia National Bank (state board), Board of Directors of People's National Bank-Sovran, director of the Farmville Area Development Corporation, board and president of the Southside Training Employment Placement, board of the Farmville YMCA, board of the Wedgewood Country Club, and as a member of the Virginia State Guard. In his chosen profession, building construction, Les was very active. He served on the board of directors of the Virginia Building Materials Association, secretary/ treasurer of Ladco Corporation, vice president of the Farmville Manufacturing Company, Inc., vice president, secretary and treasurer of Andrews Large Realty Corporation, and as secretary and treasurer of Andrews, Large and Whidden, Inc. Visitation will be held at Puckett Funeral Home on Thursday evening, September 18, from 6 until 8. The funeral service will take place at Farmville Baptist Church on Friday, September 19, at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lester E. and Frances Price Andrews Scholarship Fund at Hampden-Sydney College, the Farmville Baptist Church, Johns Memorial Episcopal Church, or the Prince Edward Rescue Squad.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.