Lester was born in Sandyville and lived in Indianola since 1977. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Lester worked as a switchman for the Rock Island Railroad and then later in the maintenance department for Simpson College.

He is survived by his wife, Charlotte of Indianola; children, Junior Kirkpatrick and Rosalita Silvius both of Indianola and Janelle Boatright of Marysville, KS. He is also survived by sisters, Audrey Hunnerdoss and Barbara Cooper of Indianola, Linda Goering of Sandyville and Kathy Fortune of Des Moines; and 5 grandchildren.

Visitation will be held 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6 at Overton Funeral Home where family will be present to greet friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the family in Lester's name.