Henry Bailey Lester's Obituary
Mr. Henry Bailey Lester, Jr., age 74, of Lewes, De went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 20, 2010 while wintering in Sarasota, Fl.
Bailey was born in Wilmington on March 26, 1935 to late Henry B. and Anna Moody Lester of St. Georges. He was a graduate of the Wilmington Friends School and Goldey Beacom School of Business. After serving in the US Army in Straubing, Germany, Bailey returned home and met and married his wife of fifty-one years, Joan Ann Romano.
A respected and successful businessman, Bailey was a partner in his family's lumber business, Lester Lumber and Home Center, in St. Georges. In later years, he worked for the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce as well as the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. Bailey served on the Board of Directors of the Delaware City Building and Loan Association as well as the Advisory Board of the Bank of Delaware. His volunteer positions included serving on the Board of Trustees for both St. Georges U.M. Church and Bethel U.M. Church of Lewes, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission for the City of Lewes, and delivering Meals on Wheels. Bailey loved spending time with his family especially on camping trips, sharing his passion for nature and the outdoors. His many travels included two cross country camping adventures and seeing every state in the US.
He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Joan; daughter Susan Halpin and her husband James of Milton; daughter Laurie Lester-Shineman and her husband Peter of Ypsilanti, Mi.; son Mark Scott Lester and his wife Susan of Mid1 le wn; grandchildren Mason, Samantha, and Maxwell Lester; Jodi Halpin Parsons, and Jason Halpin and their spouses, and six great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother John Moody Lester and Wife Carolyn as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Monday March 29, 2010 at 11:00AM at the St. Georges Historical Society (formerly St. Georges Presbyterian Church, North Main Street, St. Georges, DE where friends may call one hour prior to services. Burial will be in St. Georges Cemetery.
Friends and family may also call on Sunday, March 28 from 6pm-8pm at the Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy, Lewes, DE.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Bethel U.M. Church, 129 W. 4th Street, Lewes, De 19958 for their Building Fund or Meals on Wheels, 32409 Lewes-Georgetown Hwy. Lewes, De 19958.
Sign the guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com
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