Walter Aubrey Lester
Walter Aubrey Lester, III, 82, of Salem, VA passed away Monday Dec. 27th surrounded by the people he loved the most.
He is survived by his loving wife Alice Lester, his doting daughter Ann Lester Franco, his son-in-law and best antiquing buddy, Steve Franco. He is also survived by his grandsons Garrison Franco and Micah Franco. In Aubrey’s words, they were his boys and made his life beautiful and full of love. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Aubrey Lester, Jr. and Virginia Wyatt Lester as well as his beloved sisters Ruth Dale Lester Cooper and Delores Ann Lester Hogan.
Aubrey was born in Pittsylvania County where he developed his strong work ethic and love for theatre at Spring Garden High School. He left home and moved to Roanoke, VA after graduation to pursue a career in Accounting, even though his true love was the theater. He met his beautiful bride in Roanoke and they married in 1965. He always wanted a daughter and in 1971, Ann was born. His love and devotion to his “little family” was undeniable. In 2021 Aubrey gained a son-in-law, more importantly a best friend when Ann and Franco were married. The father/son trips they took brought him tremendous joy. When Garrison was born in 2004, Aubrey became a proud “Poppie.” In 2006, Poppie gained another grandson when Micah was born. These boys were his world. The shenanigans and unfiltered FUN the three of them had still illuminates the hallways of his home.
Anyone who knew Aubrey knew he loved flowers. His flower garden was well known in the community and he shared this love with his family and friends. His main request for his funeral would be that there would be lots and lots of flowers.
Aubrey worked at the US Postal Service where he became best friends with Dan and Diane Durham, Bea Combs, Charlie and Cheryl Turner, Norma Leffue, and Pat Queen. He is survived by all of these friends as well as his dear friend Ivan Boles.
Aubrey loved to travel and his love for English history and all things British inspired his daughter to become a history teacher. He traveled to England four times in his life and wanted to go back one more time, until his health would not allow for him to travel.
In the end, Aubrey continued to be the warrior he had always been. He gave God all the credit for giving him the strength to carry on even when he was weak. He made sure his family, especially Alice, were provided for and gave a charge to his beloved grandsons to care for their MawMaw. He raised his daughter to be strong and independent and their “saving the world” talks will be greatly missed. Aubrey never minced words and one of his final requests to his daughter was “don’t put in lieu of flowers in my obituary, I want the place full of flowers.” Rest in peace Poppie, Aubrey, Daddy, Hon. Godspeed.
