Louis William Lester Jr.

Louis William "Bill" Lester, Jr., age 89, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2025, in Hammond, Louisiana. A longtime resident of Kenner, Bill had recently made Hammond his home.

Born on June 26, 1936, in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was the beloved son of the late Louis William Lester, Sr. and Aline LeBlanc Lester.

Bill is survived by his devoted wife Charlene of 48 years, with whom he shared a lifetime of love, laughter, and family. He is also survived by his children, Louis William "Billy" Lester III (Debbie), Elizabeth "Beth" Durel (David), Barbara "Mikey" Lehtonen (Lee), and Gina Wellmeyer (Scot).

He was the proud grandfather of Rachel Hery (Warren), Matthew Lester, Lindon Sercovich, Jr. (Katrina), Derek Lehtonen (Amanda), Loren Basinger (Zach), and Jonathan Wellmeyer, and a cherished great-grandfather to Colin Hery (Victoria), Emma Hery, and Luna Basinger.

Bill spent his entire career working on the New Orleans riverfront, where he took great pride in his years of hard work unloading cargo ships - a testament to his strong work ethic and dedication.

In his free time, Bill enjoyed bowling and watching sports, especially baseball, and loved reading about history. He had a remarkable memory and a gift for storytelling, often entertaining family and friends with tales of his past adventures and experiences. His stories, filled with humor and heart, will be fondly remembered and retold for years to come.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Summerfield Assisted Living and Passages Hospice for their kindness, care, and support during the past difficult month. Your compassion and attention brought comfort to both Bill and his loved ones.

Services will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Divine Mercy Church at 4337 Sal Lentini Pkwy, Kenner, Louisiana. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by a Mass at 12:00 p.m. Final Committal will follow immediately after at Garden of Memories Funeral Home, 4900 Airline Drive, Metairie, Louisiana.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org), Northshore Humane Society (northshorehumane.org), or charity of your choice, in Bill's memory.