Gary Alexander Lester

1944 - 2010

Gary Alexander Lester 1944 - 2010 A truly genuine and modest man, Gary was above all else a loving son, husband and father of two. Throughout his 66 years he lived a wholesome and varied life. He was born in Bakersfield June 15th 1944 to military Pearl Harbor survivors. In his youth he enjoyed couples roller skating and was an East High Blade class of '62. Always an aeronautics enthusiast, he received his pilot's license in 1964. It's been said that no one ever saw Gary more "in the zone" than when he was flying. In 1966 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and became a Sergeant. After building many steel and concrete aircraft shelters he was honorably discharged in 1970. He didn't speak much about his time in Vietnam but he was very proud of his service. Gary was well known to many as a hard worker. He worked in industrial electrical sales for 38 years, retiring from Kern Electric Distributors in 2010. At home he was a jack-of-all-trades handyman, woodworker, mechanic and electrician. If he couldn't fix it, he would build you a new one. He enjoyed the simplicity of fishing with his son and as an avid golfer, spent many hours playing the course with his friends. In his last years he gave painstaking care and attention to his mother of 101 until her passing in 2009. He succumbed to cancer at home with his family on Christmas Eve 2010. Gary is survived by his wife Veronica Lester, daughter Natalie, son Rodney and brother Lawrence. He was a man who loved and was loved. A private memorial will be held. www.bakersfield.com/obits