Kenneth R. Lester Sr.

April 8, 2012. Ken was born on September 13, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois. As a young child, he

enjoyed summers on the family farm in Minnesota where he developed his love of gardening.

An excellent student, he was allowed to skip two grades which resulted in him graduating from

high school at age 15. Ken had to wait until he was 16 for his mother to sign his enlistment

papers for the u.s. Navy. He served on the battleship U.S.S. Missouri and saw combat in the

Pacific theater. He was an eyewitness to history when he and the crew were personally allowed

to observe the Japanese surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Upon discharge

from the Navy, like so many others of the "greatest generation" he attended college on the G.!.

Bill. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Civil Engineering. Later on in

life he received his Masters of Business Administration from Rollins College. In 1949 he married

Dolores Delusque, the love of his life for the next 63 years. Ken and Dolores moved their young

family to Baltimore where he worked for the Glenn L. Martin Company. In 1957 he, along with

hundreds of other engineers were transferred to Orlando where they changed the city forever.

Everyone knew a Martin-Marietta engineer and everyone knew what they were like. Usually a

veteran, precise, proud of their work, dedicated to their project and patriotic. The guitar was his

instrument of choice and he played both acoustic and electric for many years. He

enthusiastically encouraged his children to be active in athletic and intellectual pursuits. In his

retirement years, Ken and Dolores traveled the globe and made it a point to include their

children or grandchildren on their many trips. Like a true engineer, the planning of the trip was

almost enjoyable as the trip itself. In later years he enjoyed his grandchildren's exploits and he

was actively involved in their lives. Ken was preceded in death by his brother, Leonard and his

daughter, Laura Lester. He is survived by his wife, Dolores, daughter Susan Perkins (Skip), sons Kenneth R. Lester, Jr. (Dorothy) and Danial Lester; his grandchildren, Summer Perkins, Haven Perkins, Alexandra Lester and Kenneth R. Lester, III. Ken is also survived by his sister, Patricia.The family wishes to thank the staff of the Hospice of the Comforter, Julian Morcillo,

LeVann, Nakisha and Iris. A visitation for Ken, the dedicated husband, father and son,

will be held at Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home, 2811 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, on Thursday, April 12 , 2012, from 2pm-4pm, with funeral service to take place at 3pm. Condolences may be offered at www.careyhandcolonialfh.com