Obituary of Leroy Vest

WEST COLUMBIA-Funeral service for Leroy Vest, 77, of West Columbia, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at Thompson Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC 29073. Burial will follow in Celestial Memorial Gardens with full military honors. The family will receive friends from 12 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. Mr. Vest passed away on Friday, January 17, 2014. Born on January 6, 1937 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, he was a son of the late Wilmer Earl Vest and Alice Williams Simpson. He was retired from the United States Army after 22 years of dedicated service; he received numerous medals and awards; the National Defense Service Medal; Good Conduct; Vietnam Service; Vietnam Campaign Medal w/DVC 60; Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm; Meritorious Service Medal; Drill Sergeant Identification Badge and Safe Driver Badge. He had also retired from Harsco Railroad Equipment formerly known as Tamper Railroad Equipment. Surviving are his daughter, Windy Carol Lancaster (William) of Pembroke, NC; sons, Chris Vest (Jeanne) of Lexington; Scott Vest of West Columbia; Jimmy Milligan (Theresa) of Pembroke, NC and Roy Vest of Lumberton, NC; sister, Sharon Parpart (Mark) of Sioux Fall, SD; brothers, Donald Vest (Margie) of Olympia, WA and Allen Vest (Carolyn) of Jeffersonville, IN; fourteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren; He was preceded in death by three brothers and five sisters.