Lester was born October 13, 1927 in Hinsdale, NY, son of the late Lewis and Alice Kenfield. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1945 at age 17 and was in boot camp when atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. Discharged in 1946, he returned to Hinsdale and finished high school in 1947.
In 1949 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War in 1951 as ammunitions truck driver. Lester returned to the states for one year and was then assigned to the U.S. Army Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany for three years. In 1968, he went to Vietnam as a Flight Operations Chief in a combat helicopter unit. Lester was in Korea again in 1971 in the 38th Missile Brigade. The rest of his career he was a Recruiting Supervisor in NY, MD and PA. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1977, a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer with thirty years active duty.
Lester then became a MetLife Insurance and Investment Representative, retiring with twelve years of service. He volunteered at the Ecumenical Retirement Center for four years, four years at Whitaker Center and was a staff officer with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Lester is survived by his long-time companion, Doris Ryder of Middletown, PA; daughter, Paula Gambrill of Vero Beach, FL; sons Michael of Port Charlotte, FL and Ronald of Pittsford, NY; three grandchildren, Ryan Gambrill, Brett Gambrill, and Sabrina Goico; three great-grandsons, Liam, Oliver and Gabriel Gambrill; three great-granddaughters, Azeriah, Sereniah and Napriyah Goico. Lester was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia, in 2013.
Services will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.
Interment will be at Indiantown Gap Military Cemetery.
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