U.S. Air Force Retired Lt. Col. Henry Edward Hester

Lt. Col. Henry Edward Hester, U.S. Air Force Retired, 90, husband of the late Elizabeth Ann Darnell, died Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at the Hospice House in Greenwood. He was born in Troy, SC to the late John James Hester, Sr. and Annie Matilda Hanvey Hester. Lt. Col. Hester was a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He entered into the U.S. Army Air Corp as a 2nd Lt. in 1943 and retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Lt. Col in 1971. Lt. Col. Hester was awarded the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, five clusters and Bronze Star for tactical cooperation during the invasion of France. He was a member of the Buffalo Baptist Church, the VFW, American Legion and the McCormick County Cattleman's Association. He was proud of his service to his country and enjoyed spending his remaining time tree farming on the Troy family farm. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, John James Hester, Jr. and a daughter, Susan Jeanne Hester. Surviving Mr. Hester are his three daughters; Sallie Hester Flavin and her husband Mark of Salem, SC; Shelley Hester Grund and her husband Scott of Greenwood, SC and Sandra Hester Reynolds of Atlanta, GA; a sister, Sue I. Hester of Greenwood, SC; four grandsons, Chase Alexander Grund of Dayton, OH, Tyler James Grund of Minneapolis, MN, Justin Phillip Reynolds of Atlanta, GA and David Henry Reynolds of Atlanta, GA; a great-granddaughter, Kaitlin Elizabeth Grund of Dayton, OH and a host of extended family and friends. The family will receive friends from 12:30PM to 2:00PM on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at Harris Funeral Home in Abbeville. Funeral services will begin at 2:30PM on Saturday, January 8, 2011 in the Buffalo Baptist Church, 3699 Hwy 28 N. McCormick, SC, with the Rev. Ryan Eklund officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Fort Gordon Fisher House, Building 280 Fisher House Rd., Fort Gordon, GA 30905-5650 or to the Disabled American Veterans, Attn. Gift Processing, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES of Abbeville is assisting the Hester family.