ROAN MOUNTAIN Â- Clayton Edward Lester, 89, of 1212 Hwy. 143, Roan Mtn., died Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at The James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mtn. Home, cc unit.

Born on August 29, 1919, at Adkin, McDowell Co., W.VA., he was a son of the late Martin Edward and Betty Sexton Lester. He has been a resident of Roan Mtn. from 1951 to 1964, then of Bradenton , Fl., from 1964 to 1985, then Roan Mtn., from 1985 to now.

He attended The Burbank Freewill Baptist Church. He was a coal miner in Pageton, W.VA., and enlisted into the Army during WWII. He was wounded in action in Normandy, France, and decorated with The Purple Heart and a Bronze Star among other medals and then medically discharged.

He was a life member of The American Legion, Post 229, also a life member of The DAV, Ch. 87, Avery County. 
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, David; and a son, Donald Edward; 3 brothers; and 3 sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Esther Lois Booksha Lester, of the home; 2 sons, Dennis Martin, of Roan Mtn., Daniel Clayton, of Gettysburg , Pa.; one daughter, Alice Faye Lester Wynn, of Roan Mtn.; 6 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren, with one on the way in July. 

Funeral Service will be handled by The James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mtn. Home ,on Friday, May 8th, 2009, at 10 a.m.