Lester Fender

Lester Fender (71), son of McKinley Fender and Hattie Elizabeth (Clark) Fender, was born in Marion, NC on February 7, 1953, and departed this life for his heavenly home on November 28, 2024. 

He made Marion and surrounding communities his home his entire life. After his Mother’s death when he was seven years old, Lester lived the next 10 years at Southmountain Children’s Home, attending Glen Alpine schools. At age 16 he left school, though he was proud to complete his GED later in life. After school he joined the Job Corp, where he trained as a chef and learned to operate heavy equipment. Lester was in the US Army, serving honorably in Germany during the Viet Nam era. He worked on a family farm, ran heavy equipment, and worked in manufacturing before finding his lifelong career as a truck driver. He drove big rigs for over 40 years, logging over seven million miles. Lester was always very knowledgeable with common sense know-how, and his trucking simply added to this through industry knowledge and exposure to all parts of the United States. In addition to well-rounded knowledge, Lester was blessed with a natural love of people and never met a stranger. He was a Mason, active in two local lodges. Though Lester had many interests, he would want people to know his greatest love and passion was for Jesus Christ, his savior. Lester made a decision to follow Christ as a young adult. But it was in his later years that his faith took first place in his life. Those who knew Lester saw the change in him as he fully surrendered his will to God. Most recently he was an active member of Grace Community Church, always looking for ways to serve within the church and in the community. One of his favorite ways to serve outside the church was with Hope 29:11, a ministry to at risk youth. Lester always had a soft spot for children and teenagers.

Lester is preceded in death by his parents McKinley and Hattie Clark Fender, and half-siblings Wilma Fender Steele, Ruth Fender King, Everette Fender, and Willard Clark. He is survived by brother Wayne Fender and his wife Susie, and sister Donna Rhoney Peters.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Grace Community Church or Hope 29:11. 

Family will receive friends at Grace Community Church at 4:30 pm on Thursday, December 5, immediately followed by a memorial service at 5:00 pm.