Lester Virgle Bandy

Lester was born on December 7, 1931 in Picher, Oklahoma, a mining town where his father was a coal miner. He was the first of four children born to his parents Berniece and Charles Bandy. He lived and went to school in Picher until his father took the family to San Diego during World War II so he could work in the shipyards. After the war, they moved back to Picher where Lester finished high school. He then went to Southwestern Baptist College in Boliver, Missouri, where he met his future wife, Doris.

On June 7, 1953, Doris and Lester married in Columbus, Kansas. They made their home together in Kansas City where they had two children, Michael and Susan. Lester worked for Folgers Coffee and was transferred by the company to Houston in 1968. The family joined Woodridge Baptist Church, where Lester got busy volunteering in various capacities. In addition, he worked with Michael’s local Boy Scout Troop and volunteered at Houston Public Television. In 1974, Folgers again transferred Lester, this time to New Orleans. When not working, Lester again volunteered at his church and at the public television station. He learned how to do television camera work and became one of the camera men at their church.

In 1981, Lester accepted a job back in Houston at Anderson Greenwood where he worked until he retired at 65. In 1987, he and Doris joined First Baptist Church. Dad got to work pretty quickly there where he volunteered in the television ministry, bus ministry, Stephen’s ministry, VBS, and as a deacon. This is not an exhaustive list, but it provides a good idea of how important Lester’s church was to him.

Lester is survived by his son, Michael (and his wife, Priscilla), and daughter, Susan (and her husband Peter Henson). He is also survived by his seven grandchildren and their families, which includes 10 great grandchildren. In addition, he is survived by his sister, Margaret Holtzman and her husband Paul.