Mr. Ray Lester, age 75, of Bristol, Virginia, formerly of the Buchanan County area, passed away Saturday (January 14, 2023) in a Bristol, Tennessee hospital. Born September 14, 1947 in Kentucky, he spent most of his life in the southwest Virginia area and was a graduate of Council High School. He was a veteran of the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War. He was a Christian and traveled and sang at many area churches. He was a jack of all trades and had formerly been employed as a jailor, truck driver, a painter, and other occupations.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carson and Sadie Boyd Lester, his step-mother, Lora Gay Lester, his biological mother, Alley Woody, and two brothers, Hargiss Proffitt and James Lay.
Survivors include his loving wife of fifty-three years, Barbara C. Lester of the home; one daughter, Tammy Slate and husband, Calvin of Cedar Bluff; two grandsons, Chad McGlothlin and wife, Sara, and Shane McGlothlin and fiancée, Haley Russell; one great-grandson, Kason McGlothlin; six siblings, Vick Proffitt, Lois Bowers, Brenda Woody, Jamie Kittle, Will Woody, and Dan Woody.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM Wednesday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, Virginia with Rev. Darrell Milgrim officiating. Interment will follow in Frank Smith Cemetery on Big A Mountain, Virginia.
Military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 9864 of Lebanon, Virginia.
Relatives and friends will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 1:00 – 2:00 PM.