Freestone County, Texas	 	
Obituaries






The Teague Chronicle - Feb 8, 2007:

LESTER C. DANFORD

Funeral services for Lester C. Danford, of Keechi, were held on Friday, February
2, 2007, at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.

Bro. Lee Weiler officiated and interment was at Keechi Cemetery.

Lester Carl Danford was born on July 19, 1913, to Delia and Fred Danford in 
Nineveh, Texas. He passed away in Palestine, Texas on January 26, 2007, at the 
age of 93.

Lester attended school in Nineveh and Reagan, Texas. After graduation he worked
for the railroad and then learned the trade of carpentry and cabinet making.

On September 15, 1942, he entered active duty with the United States Army in 
Leon County and attended Engineers Officers Training School in Ft. Belvior, VA.
After graduating, his first assignment as a 2nd Lieutenant was to help form the
355th Engineers Regiment. The 355th Engineers Regiment was awarded five 
participation stars, which included Normandy Campaign, Battle of Northern France, 
Battle of the Andennes, Rhineland and Central Europe.

He received the Bronze Star award for "Meritorious Service." He was made Company 
F Commander as a 2nd Lieutenant and later a Captain. After Japan surrendered, 
Lester returned home after serving two and one-half years in Europe and six and 
one-half years in all.

He has been a building contractor and a stock farmer. He was a member of the 
Buffalo Masonic Lodge. The Order of Eastern Star, the Palestine VFW, the Leon 
County Retired teachers Association, and Mt. Zion Baptist Church where he was a 
Deacon.

On October 20, 1945, Lester married Beatrice Coats. Their union was blessed with
one child, a son, Jimmy Lester, who survives his parents. Other survivors include
his grandchildren Lance Danford and wife Mary of Los Angeles, California, Chase
Danford of Houston, Texas and Kaylie Heimann of Bryan, Texas, Olyvia Danford and 
two lifetime friends J.J. "Bunk" Roberts and Ernest Ferguson.