Allen Lester

Allen Clarke Lester, 89, longtime Moses Lake resident and former business owner, died Thursday, December 8, 2011 in Summer Wood Alzheimer's Special Care Center surrounded by his beloved family. Allen was born April 27, 1922 in Winterville, Georgia to James and Ola (Carter) Lester.

Allen grew up in Hull, Georgia and as a youth he worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps, and at age 19 he entered the U.S. Navy working as an aircraft mechanic. He was serving on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) when sixteen B-25B bombers led by Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle launched what many remember as the "Doolittle raid" on Japan on April 18, 1942. Just a little more than a month-and-a-half later Allen served in the Torpedo 8 Squadron during the fierce Battle of Midway. In 1946, while stationed at Pasco (Washington) Naval Air Base he attended a Saturday night dance in Prosser where he met a young woman, Frances Gress, who soon became his wife. After his dedicated and honorable service in the U.S. Navy, Allen and Frances later moved to Moses Lake where he worked as a homebuilder and established Moses Lake Cabinet Shop in the early 1960s. He was a gifted cabinetmaker, and built cabinets for many, many homes and businesses in Moses Lake. One of his favorite sayings was "I've done a lot of bank jobs and got away with it!" He built all of the cabinets in the CCD Center, now the Fatima Center. He was a very active member of the Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. After closing his cabinet shop in 1974, he worked for, and retired from, Big Bend Community College as carpenter/maintenance. Many, many of the shelving units, bookshelves and cabinets are still being utilized at Big Bend Community College, a true testament to his extraordinary and talented skills as cabinetmaker and carpenter. He loved yard work, gardening, and sitting in his swing, which he built, watching birds. He enjoyed camping with his family, fishing once in a while, but especially being the best husband, dad and grandpa to his family. He was a very devoted and dedicated family man, and loving grandpa to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Allen is survived by his beloved wife of more than 65 years, Frances, sons Jerry (Jo Marie) Lester, John (Marion) Lester and daughter Michele (Lind) Bingham all of Moses Lake; siblings Stan (Betty), Thelma, Helen, Betty and Sara Jean (Wendal) all of Georgia; grandchildren Jim (Cheryl), Sam (Hillary), Becky (Josh), Laura, Heather, Lee, Julio, Ryan (Cristie), Lindsey (Gilbert) and 14 great-grandchildren; and many friends.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, brother Joe Lester and great-granddaughter Jessica.

Allen's family would like to extend a very special thank you to nurse's Alex and Don at Samaritan Hospital, the entire staff and residents at Summer Wood Alzheimer's Special Care Center (many of whom became part of Allen's family), and Central Basin Hospice staff and nurses, who took such great care of Allen.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 10:30 a.m., with Memorial Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 13, 2011 in Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 200 N. Dale Rd., Moses Lake. Interment with military honors will immediately follow the Mass in the church columbarium. A luncheon will be provided in the Fatima Center (CCD Center) adjacent to the church.

Please visit www.carverfamilyfuneralhome.com to leave a note or message for Allen's family and sign his online guestbook.

Allen's family has asked Carver Family Funeral Home to care for final arrangements.