Ernest W. "Bill" Lester

Ernest W. (Bill) Lester, 80, of Clarion, passed away Sunday, December 05, 2004 at  the Wright Medical Center in Clarion, Iowa.

Funeral services for Ernest Lester will be held on Wednesday, December 8, 2004 at 10:30 AM at the Presbyterian Church in Clarion, Iowa.  Burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation for Ernest Lester will be held on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 from 6:00 –8:00 PM at the Ewing Dugger Funeral Home 602 North Main Clarion and continue one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Ernest William Lester, son of Herbert James and Harriet Louise (Poolman) Lester, was born February 20, 1924, in Rowan. He attended school in Rowan and Clarion, and as a young man he worked on a farm.

On May 9, 1948 Bill was united in marriage to Emma S. Williams at the Dows Methodist Church. The couple settled in Clarion and raised their six children.

Bill worked for the Wright County Road Department for 39 years, retiring in 1987. He then drove the CAT van for the City of Clarion from 1987 to 2001.

Bill enjoyed traveling, bowling, hunting and fishing, but most of all he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Surviving Bill are his 5 children; Ernie and his wife Berniece of Liberty, Missouri, Don of Des Moines, Steve and his wife Carolyn of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Louise Lester and companion Barry Babcock of Goldfield; and Jim of Clarion; 14 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; his brother, George Lester of Clarion; his sister, Betty Olsen of Garretson, South Dakota; and many nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Emma; his parents; his daughter, Linda; 3 brothers; and 1 sister.