Lester Raymond Smith

Funeral services for Lester Raymond Smith, 79, of Junction City, will be held at 2:00PM Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, 203 N. Washington, Junction City with Rev. Darel Boston officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery, Junction City. Visitation will be held from 6:00PM – 8:00PM, Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel. Mr. Smith passed away Saturday, January 19, 2008 at his home. The family requests that memorials be made to Hospice and Home Healthcare at Geary Community Hospital in care of Geary Community Healthcare Foundation, P. O. Box 3015, Junction City, Kansas.

Mr. Smith was born February 15, 1928 in Reford, Kansas. He was the son of Harry and Viola (Hartman) Smith. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. Mr. Smith served in the Army Air Force Corp for 3 years in World War II as an airplane mechanic. Later he worked at Fort Riley as a civil servant in Pest Control. He also worked as a private businessman repairing sewing machines. He later became a Singer Sewing Machine dealer. He raised and sold black and tan coon dogs. Mr. Smith was an avid coon hunter and enjoyed fishing for catfish.

He married Virginia Popejoy on May 15, 1997 in Junction City. She survives. Also surviving is a daughter, Polly Ann Lightner and her husband, Clell, Sr. of Wichita; one sister, Charlotte Vance of Junction City; 3 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; 3 step-sons, David Popejoy, Douglas Popejoy and Dana Popejoy.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Fred Smith and Pete Smith; 3 sisters, Beverly Patrick, Arlene Winter and Ida Thomas.