Funeral services for Ralph Sterling Lester, age 86, of Fayetteville, will be conducted Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Higgins Funeral Home with Rev. Ray Gardner officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mr. Lester passed away Saturday, May 9, 2015 at Bailey Manor in Winchester, TN.

Mr. Lester was a native of Wilson County, TN, the son of the late George and Beulah Weatherly Lester. He owned and operated the Piggly Wiggly on College Street for over 18 years and later retired from Gerald’s Foodland. He was of the Baptist faith.

Mr. Lester is survived by his wife of 65 years Joyce Wauford Lester of Winchester, TN, daughter Sandra Lester Stewart and husband Richard of Winchester, TN, sons Mike Lester and Jimmy Lester both of Fayetteville, TN, 9 grandchildren Eric Stewart, Cortney Stewart Sanders, Kyle Stewart all of Winchester, TN, Ryan Stewart of Indianapolis, IN, Lynn Lester Warren, Greg Lester, Brandon Lester, Brooke Lester Baldwin all of Fayetteville, TN, Travis Lester of Shelbyville, TN, 13 great-grandchildren, sisters Frances Taylor, Jean Mofield both of Lebanon, TN and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Lester was preceded in death by sisters Mary Elizabeth Trusty and Ruth Ligon all of Lebanon, TN.

Visitation with the family will be Monday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, c/o Bailey Manor, 300 Hospital Rd., Winchester, TN 37398.