Virginia B. Lester

Virginia Marie Bowen Lester, a resident of Westwood since 1959, died Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at the Norwood Hospital in Norwood, Massachusetts.  She was 86.  Virginia was born March 11, 1931 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the daughter of Katie Sue Schaefer and Albert S.Bowen Jr.  She grew up in the family home, “the Dogwoods” in Chickamauga, Georgia and graduated from Girl’s Preparatory School in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1949, attended Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia from 1949 to 1951 and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee in 1953.  Virginia married George N. Lester, III of Atlanta Georgia on April 14, 1956 in Chickamauga, Georgia and in 1956 the couple moved to Massachusetts, settling in Westwood in August of 1959.  She was a Past President of the Westwood Garden Club and the Westwood Woman’s Club.  Virginia was active in the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Massachusetts, especially with the Memorial Forest.  After her son Albert, an aspiring teacher, was killed by a drunk driver in 1992, she spoke in countless high schools in New England and was honored by the National Commission against Drunk Driving.  Currently she serves on the Westwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee.  Virginia is survived by her husband of 61 years, George N. Lester III of Westwood; their son George N. Lester IV, and his wife Blanche Teyssier, of Medfield, Massachusetts; two grandsons, Albert Benjamin Lester II and Jake Whitney Lester; her brother, William S. Bowen of Arlington, Virginia; four nieces, Susan and Alice Harra, and Lesley and Holly Bowen; and a nephew, Bryan Bowen.  She was predeceased by her son, Albert B. Lester; her brother, Albert Sidney Bowen III; her sister, Katherine Bowen Harra; and a nephew, Reece Bowen.  Virginia will be remembered for her good sense of humor, her attitude of hope, and her spirit of forgiveness.  Visiting hours will be held Friday, March 31, 2017 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High Street, Westwood.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend Virginia’s funeral Saturday at 10 am at the First Baptist Church, 808 High Street, Westwood followed by interment in New Westwood Cemetery.  Donations in her memory to the Albert Lester Memorial Scholarship Fund at Westwood High School, 200 Nahatan Street, Westwood, MA 02090, or to the First Baptist Church, 808 High Street, Westwood, MA 02090 or to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.