Randy Lester
Senior Chief Randall Lee “Randy” Lester, 57, died January 7, 2018, in Virginia Beach, Va.
Randy was born July 16, 1960, in Camden, Ark., to Doyle and Katherine (Harms) Lester. He graduated from El Dorado High School in 1978; attended University of Arkansas as a football manager under coach Lou Holtz; earned an associate’s degree from Temple College, a bachelor’s degree from University of La Verne, and a Real Estate license. He enjoyed discussing history, business and politics, and participating in Toastmasters International.
During Randy’s more than 20-year career in the United States Navy he was stationed in San Diego, Calif.; Yokosuka, Japan; Naples, Italy; and Norfolk, Va., serving aboard USS McKee (AS-41) submarine tender; USS Enterprise (CVN-65) world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier; USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) command and control ship of the 7th Fleet; and USS America (CV-66) Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier.
He married Melanie Bullen in Winter Park, Fla., in 1994; and they had two children. Randy was a member of the church of Christ throughout his life and was pleased to have baptized both of his children.
Randy is survived by wife Melanie, daughter Kelley, and son Jeramey, of Virginia Beach; mother, Katherine Lester of Temple, Texas; sister Susan Lewis and husband Michael of Abilene, Texas; and nephews, Barrett Lewis and Ethan Lewis of Abilene. He is preceded in death by father, Doyle Lester.
Private burial with military honors was January 26, 2018, at Albert G. Horton Veteran’s Cemetery, Suffolk, Va. Memorial was in Virginia Beach January 27.