Lester Alton Nelson passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2011 at the Norman Oklahoma Veterans Retirement Center at the age of 95. Lester was born on December 12, 1915 in Frederick Oklahoma to Joe and Willie Nelson. His family later moved to Sallisaw, Oklahoma where he met and married Ina Mae Ray in 1938. Ina Mae preceded Lester in death in 2005 after 66 years of marriage.
Lester was a World War 2 veteran, serving from September, 1943 to December, 1945. He enlisted in the Navy at Sallisaw. As a member of the 39th “Seabee” Navy Construction Battalion he trained in Virginia and California before being shipped to Hawaii and eventually the island of Saipan.
After the war, Lester worked in the construction industry around the state of Oklahoma and lived primarily in Oklahoma City and later Henryetta, Oklahoma. Lester was also a skilled mechanic, gardener and enjoyed golf and fishing until very late in his life.
In addition to his wife, Lester was preceded in death by infant twin daughters, Sharon Kay and Shirley Mae, and daughter Erma Lou Ward and granddaughter Jeri Carter.
Lester is survived by daughter Velma June (Judy) Jackson of Norman, Oklahoma, son Kenneth and wife Nancy of Oklahoma City and son Roger and wife Diane of Guthrie. Lester is also survived by 9 grandchildren, Scott Brown, Rex Brown and Kevin Brown of Norman, Oklahoma, Sheila Danker of Wellston, Oklahoma, Bryan Nelson of Edmond, Oklahoma, Melissa Nelson of Pensacola, Florida, Bradley Nelson of Bridge Creek, Oklahoma, Aimee Duncan of Edmond, Oklahoma and Jeremy Nelson of Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Lester is also survived by 20 great grand children and 9 great, great grandchildren. A family service will be held in Wellston, Oklahoma.