Lester Gordon Walton

The angelic trumpet sounded, calling for the beat of a percussionist on May 7, 2013 when Lester G. Walton answered the call.

Lester was a musician, who formally studied at Chicago's Roosevelt College, as well as with various music teachers. He played the Miami Beach circuit which included a weekly television show on WTVJ, "Black Is". While in Miami, he also performed on cruise ships which carried him to places such as Norway and Peru. Lester knew and played with some of the truly great ones, names like Count Basie, Ray Charles, and Jackie Davis. He was also well known to audiences all over Chicago regularly appearing with his group, the Les Walton Trio. In 1973, Lester joined TWA at O'Hare Airport where he continued his traveling privileges.

A friend to everyone, Lester was often seen in Valois Restaurant where he gathered a following that dubbed him, "The Mayor of Hyde Park". He was a civil war history buff and enjoyed engaging in simulated Jeopardy-style exchanges at his “office ".

Lester was preceded in death by his parents, Julia and Charles, Sr. and three brothers, Charles, Jr., Denon, and his twin, Laurence.

A loving father, brother, grandfather, uncle, cousin he leaves to cherish his memories, two sons, Charles(Velvet), Gordon (Jennifer), two daughters, Jean (Coleman) Reola (Jahmal), eight grandchildren, David, Christine, Brandon, Blair, Julienne, Emily, Logan and Jalen and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Now Lester Gordon Walton is a part of the heavenly ensemble and his beat goes on.....