Dr. Clarence Ned Lester, of Blacksburg, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 22 surrounded by his loving wife and children. Ned was born in Washington County and was the son of John Carson and Vene Elizabeth Lester. He was preceded in death by his brothers Jack, Robert, Jim and Bill Lester; his sisters Linnie Arnett, Mary Francis Heinke, Nancy Leonard and Laura Sue Comey.
Ned is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dr. Rosalyn Lester; his son ,Craig Lester, and wife, Kerri; daughter, Elizabeth Lester, and husband, Wulff Piotraschke; granddaughters, Courtney and Paige Lester; twin brother, Ted Lester, and wife, Elizabeth; and sisters, Betty Cline and Peggy Robinson.
Ned secured his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Virginia Tech and his Ph.D. from Florida State University. He happily spent his entire career serving Virginia Tech. He was an elder in the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, past District Governor of Rotary International and past President of the New River Valley Friends of the Roanoke Symphony.
He enjoyed mentoring numerous international students during their study at Virginia Tech. He loved the Hokies (go Hokies!), golf and painting landscape scenes around Western Virginia and Hilton Head, South Carolina.
A funeral service was held Monday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church.
