Robert L. ”Bob” Kester, 90, of Curwensville died Friday, June 5, 2015 at the Penn Highlands Clearfield. He was born Sept. 7, 1924 in Curwensville, a son of the late J. Ernest and J. Pearl (Middleton) Kester.
Mr. Kester served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a navigator in the South Pacific. After his service with the Army Corps, Mr. Kester attended Penn State DuBois for two years.
He was then employed by Roy Kindig Engineering and also the mapping office of Clearfield County. He also worked in real estate acquisitions with the Pennsylvania Department of Highways in Harrisburg, the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corp. out of Indiana, Pa., and the Benjamin Coal Co. in LaJose.
He then became self-employed as a Pennsylvania-licensed land surveyor. He owned Kester Land Surveys and Land Management, retiring at the age of 80.
Mr. Kester served and was past president of the following three boards: the Curwensville School Board, the Clearfield and Curwensville Vo-Tech and the Central Intermediate Unit.
He was also instrumental in bringing the first nursing home to Curwensville. He had once owned and served as president of the board of the Curwensville Nursing Home.
Mr. Kester was a member and past president of the Curwensville Lions Club and the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors in State College. Being a veteran, Mr. Kester was a life member of the Curwensville American Legion and VFW Post 842.
He is survived by his wife, Thelma (Thompson) Kester, to whom he was married May 12, 1976 in Winchester, Va.; a son, Brian of Clearfield; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Zena Clark and Grace Mulhollan and three brothers, Clair, William and Charles Kester. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Curwensville, with the Rev. Stephen D. Shields officiating.
Burial will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Curwensville. Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the members of the DuBois American Legion Honor Guard.
Friends will be received at the funeral home from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday and from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 275 21st St., Clearfield, or to the Curwensville Missionary and Alliance Church, 725 Susquehanna Ave., Curwensville.
To sign the online guestbook, go to www.beardsleyfuneralhome.com.