Tolbert N. Lester Jr.

Mr. Tolbert N. Lester Jr., age 80, of Gainesville, Ga., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014 at his residence.

Celebration of life service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, at Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel. Dr. Jerry Gill will officiate. The family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m. following the service.

Mr. Lester was born Dec. 2, 1933, in Athens, Ga., the son of the late Tolbert N. Lester Sr. and Ada (McDonald) Lester. Mr. Lester was known for being able to do anything he put his mind to doing. He could fix anything, build anything and create something whenever needed. The youngest of 12 children, he grew up appreciating everything he had or worked for. Blessed with four girls, each took turns being his little helper. Tolbert was a devoted husband, father and friend to all.

His passion was restoring any kind of automobile, and seeing the smiling faces. He was the owner of Lester Auto Restoration and started his business in 1981, the day his grandson David was born.

He was an honorary member of the Korean War Veterans, and a member of the Lanier Land Old Car Club, and other clubs as well. He enjoyed taking his favorite automobile "57' Ranchero" to the car shows and driving it in the Memorial Day parade. He had many awards for his beautiful workmanship. He restored the Hudson for Mr. Herbert Bell that was used in the movie "Driving Miss Daisy:" Tolbert and Lucy were invited to the premiere in Atlanta.

Each year in the summer he enjoyed helping his friends host a "BLT" luncheon for anyone that wanted to come. He always loved a good joke and was always there to listen or tell you one he had just heard. He always had a smile on his face, his hand out to shake and a kind word.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings and spouses, Donald and Betty Lester, Carolyn and Tony Delitto, Henry and Ruby Lester, Doris and Ed Dillinger, Geneva and George Litchfield, Wesley and Betty Lester, John Arthur and Frances Lester, Charles Palmer, Myrtice and Darious Wood; and granddaughter, Jamie Elaine Evans.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Lucy Lester; daughters and spouses, Terri and John Campbell, of Oakwood, Connie and Terry Evans, of Gainesville, Sandra and Jim Tuthill, of South Lyon, Mich., Kelly and Vance Kelly, of Cumming; grandchildren and spouses, David Evans, Julie Evans Brandsma and Josh Brandsma, of Port Angeles, Wash., Sarah Campbell, of Seattle, Wash., Hannah Campbell of Rockford, Ala., Ashley and Alex McGrath, of Grand Rapids, Mich., Emily and Stanley Stinson, James Tuthill of South Lyon, Mich., Allison Kelly and Joshua Kelly, of Cumming, Ga.; great-grandchildren, Selora and Ava Stinson, South Lyon, Mich.; brothers, Joe P Lester and Carlton Lester; his only remaining sister, Alice Nell Palmer, of Winterville, Ga.; sisters-in-law, Sylvia and Martha Lester, James Ray and Betsy McDonald, of Winder, Ga.; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501.
770-297-6200 or for those who desire online condolences at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.