Teddy Lester

Teddy Robin Lester, 58, passed peacefully from this life while surrounded by his loving family on Friday, April 12, 2019. Teddy grew up in West Columbia, Texas. And made friends easily because of his infectious laugh and boundless energy. He became lifelong friends with his "school buddies" who walked this journey with him every step of the way. He was a graduate of the Columbia High School Class of 1979 and excelled in football, baseball, golf and track. He also played saxophone in the Roughneck Band. He attended Wharton Junior College his first year out of high school, after which he received a track scholarship to Lamar University, where his team won several championships.

Teddy majored in business and after college worked in sales in Corpus Christi, Texas. While there he became one of the first salesmen hired at the newly formed company, Register Tapes Unlimited. As a national sales manager he enjoyed a successful twenty nine year career with RTU and traveled extensively. He helped build a sales force which grew RTU into a multi billion dollar American success story. He was admired and loved by everyone there. While still in Corpus he started a successful TexMex restaurant and a frozen yogurt shop.

Teddy was a passionate sportsman, learning to hunt and fish from his father, Charles Lester. He hunted deer, ducks and geese all over central and south Texas, elk in Colorado, caribou in Alaska and pheasant in South Dakota. He always hunted with his beloved German Shorthair dog, Harley, who passed away in November, 2018 at the remarkable age of 15. Teddy fished both freshwater and saltwater and got to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams when he was invited to go sail fishing in Guatemala with the world sailfish champion. He loved snow skiing and water skiing and loved to travel. His favorite adventure was a trip that he and his mother, Joyce, and sister, Eleese, made to Costa Rica.

Teddy was the "best uncle ever" and loved visiting his sister, Nancy, and brother in law, David, and their children Heather, Lesley and Brendan who absolutely adored him. He was known for his hilarious sense of humor and ability to tell a great story. He was loved dearly by friends and family who always looked forward to a new "Teddy story". No one who knew Teddy could ever remember him having an unkind word to say about anyone. He had a lifelong and personal relationship with his Savior and Lord and served them faithfully.

Teddy is survived by his beloved mother, Joyce Lester of West Columbia, his two sisters, Nancy Gillett (husband David) of Lago Vista, Texas, Eleese Lester-Baier (husband Richard) of Houston, his nieces, Heather Irving (husband Ben) of Austin and Lesley Gurney (husband Dave) of Sydney, Australia, his nephew Brendan Gillett of San Antonio and his precious grand nephew, Liam Irving.
He is preceded in death by his loving father, Charles Milton Lester, his grandparents Beulah and Riley Webb and Holly and Grace Lester.

Services will be held at Columbia United Methodist Church, 315 South 16th Street in West Columbia, Texas, on Thursday, April 18 at 1 pm followed by a reception at the church. Burial will follow at Columbia Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Baker Funeral Home in West Columbia. Serving as pallbearers are Greg Harris, Steve Willoughby, Clay Shock, Brendan Gillett, David Gillett, Jeff Hays, Mike Crutcher, and Terry McKinney. Honorary pallbearer is Jonathan Champagne. Donations to Columbia United Methodist church would be greatly appreciated.

To plant a tree in memory of Teddy Robin Lester, visit the Tribute Store .