Obituary of Richard Kester

LEXINGTON-Richard went to meet his Savior on Sunday, September 13th and we have no doubt he is fixing up old hot rods to drag race as we speak. He was born on January 15, 1945 in Pennsylvania and after graduating from Ridley Township High in 1963 he joined the USMC. After serving in Vietnam, he became a DI at Parris Island and passed along his shooting and cursing skills to many recruits! On leave one day at the beach he met the love of his life, Barbara Whitman and they married in 1964. They had three kids, Dawn, Denise and Ricky and many many fur babies! Richard went to work at SCE&G after his USMC stint where he rose through the ranks from Mechanic to General Manager of Fleet Maintenance. After retiring he went to work at Carolina International Trucks where he was actively working up until his illness. Richard was a member of Northside Baptist Church where he served in many roles from Chairman of the Deacons to Sunday School teacher and Upward Basketball coach. He was very active in the Men's Ministry and service opportunities of the Church. He was always very athletic and loved to play basketball and softball with the church team. He then took that love to his kid's sports, serving as a softball coach for his girls, then a longtime baseball coach at Midlands. He and Barbara loved to golf and he was the proud owner of two Holes in One! He was a Kentucky Colonel and was a past President of the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference. He was a former Board Member of Harvest Hope and was a member of the USMC Drill Instructors Association. Richard's greatest joy was his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and George Kester, as well as a brother, George Kester; and sister Jane Gibbons. He is survived by his wife, Barbara and his children, Dawn (Jon) Cochran, Denise Pottlitzer and Rick (Jennifer) Kester. He is also survived by a sister, Mildred Kester, brothers Paul Gibbons, Doug Gibbons and Thomas Gibbons, brothers Skeeter Whitman and Ed Whitman, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Our greatest memories are the times he spent with us and his grandchildren- Tyler and Justin Pottlitzer, Kyle and Chloe Kester, and Jonathan and Marshall Cochran. They loved their adventures with Pop-Pop and he will be greatly missed! Fur babies Linus, Gracie and Sadie will save his snuggle spot next to Mom! Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 17th at 11:00 a.m. at Northside Baptist Church, with a service to follow at 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Woodridge Memorial Park, with family receiving friends from 2 to 4 p.m. at 819 Hope Ferry Road in Lexington. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Harvest Hope Food Bank, 2220 Shop Road, Columbia, SC 29201 or the Wounded Warriors Project, P O Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.