Lester was a man with one foot firmly planted in the Industrial Age and the other still in the Agricultural Age. Not only did he enjoy a 35-year career with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, becoming a production superintendent, but he also actively pursued the farming life as fully as possible. Lester also became a 32nd Degree Past Master of the Masonic Order. In 1920 Lester married Lena Marie Seiler, from Glouster, Ohio, and they had three children - Vera, Roby and Lynn. The family was raised in a house in Akron bought in the early 1920's that was within walking distance of the factory that became Goodyear Corporate Headquarters.
But there was always farming in Lester's life. There were large gardens both at the Akron house and on his father's farm. One year they raised popcorn that was sold to friends and co-workers at the price of three pounds for 25 cents! In 1948, the family moved to Stow, Ohio, where they had cleared 22 acres for a small farm. Lester was determined to make a success of the operation and raised most crops and livestock he could think of (including popcorn!). He worked full time at Goodyear and, with his wife and youngest son, also essentially full time at farming. Lester used to take his son Lynn and go door to door selling homegrown fresh produce that was much enjoyed by his customers. The farm in Stow is now a shopping center.
Lester was a determined and hard-working man who could sometimes be difficult in his single-mindedness. Certainly his children didn't always agree on what he thought best for them. But, to their advantage, he was a person who believed strongly in education as the way to success in life. For example, he took advantage of an education program offered by Goodyear for employees with executive potential who had not completed high school, and after two years of night school became valedictorian of his class at thirty years of age. While Lester's work ethic and determination didn't take him to executive levels at Goodyear, it certainly rubbed off on his children, as they all went on to earn college degrees.
Lester and Lena retired to Largo, Florida about 1967, where they welcomed frequent family and friends visiting from the North. The picture is from their 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 1970. They passed away there within a few days of each other in 1986, and a joint funeral was conducted in Ohio, at St. Jacob's Church, with many family and friends.
But there was always farming in Lester's life. There were large gardens both at the Akron house and on his father's farm. One year they raised popcorn that was sold to friends and co-workers at the price of three pounds for 25 cents! In 1948, the family moved to Stow, Ohio, where they had cleared 22 acres for a small farm. Lester was determined to make a success of the operation and raised most crops and livestock he could think of (including popcorn!). He worked full time at Goodyear and, with his wife and youngest son, also essentially full time at farming. Lester used to take his son Lynn and go door to door selling homegrown fresh produce that was much enjoyed by his customers. The farm in Stow is now a shopping center.
Lester was a determined and hard-working man who could sometimes be difficult in his single-mindedness. Certainly his children didn't always agree on what he thought best for them. But, to their advantage, he was a person who believed strongly in education as the way to success in life. For example, he took advantage of an education program offered by Goodyear for employees with executive potential who had not completed high school, and after two years of night school became valedictorian of his class at thirty years of age. While Lester's work ethic and determination didn't take him to executive levels at Goodyear, it certainly rubbed off on his children, as they all went on to earn college degrees.
Lester and Lena retired to Largo, Florida about 1967, where they welcomed frequent family and friends visiting from the North. The picture is from their 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 1970. They passed away there within a few days of each other in 1986, and a joint funeral was conducted in Ohio, at St. Jacob's Church, with many family and friends.
Lester was a man with one foot firmly planted in the Industrial Age and the other still in the Agricultural Age. Not only did he enjoy a 35-year career with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, becoming a production superintendent, but he also actively pursued the farming life as fully as possible. Lester also became a 32nd Degree Past Master of the Masonic Order. In 1920 Lester married Lena Marie Seiler, from Glouster, Ohio, and they had three children - Vera, Roby and Lynn. The family was raised in a house in Akron bought in the early 1920's that was within walking distance of the factory that became Goodyear Corporate Headquarters.
But there was always farming in Lester's life. There were large gardens both at the Akron house and on his father's farm. One year they raised popcorn that was sold to friends and co-workers at the price of three pounds for 25 cents! In 1948, the family moved to Stow, Ohio, where they had cleared 22 acres for a small farm. Lester was determined to make a success of the operation and raised most crops and livestock he could think of (including popcorn!). He worked full time at Goodyear and, with his wife and youngest son, also essentially full time at farming. Lester used to take his son Lynn and go door to door selling homegrown fresh produce that was much enjoyed by his customers. The farm in Stow is now a shopping center.
Lester was a determined and hard-working man who could sometimes be difficult in his single-mindedness. Certainly his children didn't always agree on what he thought best for them. But, to their advantage, he was a person who believed strongly in education as the way to success in life. For example, he took advantage of an education program offered by Goodyear for employees with executive potential who had not completed high school, and after two years of night school became valedictorian of his class at thirty years of age. While Lester's work ethic and determination didn't take him to executive levels at Goodyear, it certainly rubbed off on his children, as they all went on to earn college degrees.
Lester and Lena retired to Largo, Florida about 1967, where they welcomed frequent family and friends visiting from the North. The picture is from their 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 1970. They passed away there within a few days of each other in 1986, and a joint funeral was conducted in Ohio, at St. Jacob's Church, with many family and friends.
But there was always farming in Lester's life. There were large gardens both at the Akron house and on his father's farm. One year they raised popcorn that was sold to friends and co-workers at the price of three pounds for 25 cents! In 1948, the family moved to Stow, Ohio, where they had cleared 22 acres for a small farm. Lester was determined to make a success of the operation and raised most crops and livestock he could think of (including popcorn!). He worked full time at Goodyear and, with his wife and youngest son, also essentially full time at farming. Lester used to take his son Lynn and go door to door selling homegrown fresh produce that was much enjoyed by his customers. The farm in Stow is now a shopping center.
Lester was a determined and hard-working man who could sometimes be difficult in his single-mindedness. Certainly his children didn't always agree on what he thought best for them. But, to their advantage, he was a person who believed strongly in education as the way to success in life. For example, he took advantage of an education program offered by Goodyear for employees with executive potential who had not completed high school, and after two years of night school became valedictorian of his class at thirty years of age. While Lester's work ethic and determination didn't take him to executive levels at Goodyear, it certainly rubbed off on his children, as they all went on to earn college degrees.
Lester and Lena retired to Largo, Florida about 1967, where they welcomed frequent family and friends visiting from the North. The picture is from their 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 1970. They passed away there within a few days of each other in 1986, and a joint funeral was conducted in Ohio, at St. Jacob's Church, with many family and friends.
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