Johnnie Hester

Johnnie Bernard (J.B.) Hester, passed away July 13, 2018, in Abilene. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, 2018, at Adams-Foster-Ray Funeral Home with burial in Hamlin Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 17, 2018, from 6-7 p.m. at Adams-Foster-Ray Funeral Home Chapel.
Johnnie Bernard (J.B.) Hester was born on January 19, 1926 in Oenaville, Texas to John Thomas and Mary Ida Hester in Bell County. He joined the U.S. Marines Corps serving from 1943-1946 in the Pacific Area. He was in the Fifth Marine Division 27th Regiment where he proudly witnessed the raising of the United States Flag on Iwo Jima on Mount Suribachi. While serving he was a machine gun crewman, sharp shooter, and cook. He was very proud to be a Marine. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corp he returned to Bell County to work on the farm. Then moved to Hamlin, Texas where he meet Joan Carr when they both worked at Celotex. They married on June 26, 1948 and were married for sixty-three years. Joan passed away on January 31, 2012. Johnny began working for the United States Postal Service in 1960 in Hamlin, Texas. He was a city carrier and clerk for over twenty years, finishing his career as a rural route carrier in Anson, Texas. Johnnie retired in 2000 with forty years in the postal service. He was known for his cooking and gardening and passed that love on to his children and grandchildren. He was so proud to be PaPa and adored all his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. Johnnie was a Mason and a member of the Denton Valley Baptist Church. He had a great love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Left to cherish his memory he is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Sam and Kenny Gayle Hester, and his daughter and son-in-law Marsha and Charlie Bishop; 6 grandchildren, Jennifer Smith (Duane Davis), James Bishop (Lucy), Holly Morris (Jeremy), Lacy Lineweaver (Aaron), Josh Terry, Chad Hutcherson; 12 great grandchildren, Dlyan Newman (Jessica), Hayden Smith (Tiffany), Laken Bishop, Logan Kate Bishop, Alex Morris, Josh Morris, Katelin Morris, Michael Morris, Madison Terry, Ella Grace Terry, Mack Lineweaver, and Lane Lineweaver; 3 great-great grandchildren, Stetson Newman, Roper Newman, Allison Morris; 2 step granddaughters: 8 step grandchildren; and 4 step great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews that he loved greatly, along with a host of friends, especially his oldest friend Clem Leatherman whose friendship has lasted over eighty-five years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Joan, 5 sisters; Mary Ruth Hedrick, Louise Nazworth, Minnie Pearl Hendrix, Rosa Lee Pritchard, and Lucille Welch, and 3 brothers; Helon Hester, W.I. Goolsby, and Dudley Goolsby.

Visitation

Adams-Foster-Ray Funeral Home
505 NW 5th St.
Hamlin, TX  79520
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
6 pm - 7 pm

Service

Adams-Foster-Ray Funeral Home Chapel
505 NW 5th Street
Hamlin, WV  79520
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
2 pm

Cemetery

Hamlin Memorial Cemetery
2 mi E. of traffic light on TX-92
Hamlin, TX  79520