John Allen Hester, 85, of Raleigh, passed away on April 19, 2017 in Charlotte, NC.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on April 25, 2017 at the Montlawn Chapel in Raleigh, North Carolina. Burial will follow at the Montlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are being taken care of by Montlawn Funeral Home.

John Allen Hester was born in Raleigh, NC to Louise Hester and Nugent Hester on June 2, 1931. He was a graduate of the Class of 1950 at Broughton High School in Raleigh, NC. John was a firefighter for the Raleigh Fire Department and a veteran of the Korean War. He served in the Air Force from June of 1950 thru June of 1954 and for his service, John was awarded the purple heart. He was the founder and the first chartered member of the Raleigh Fireman's Club. He went on many missionary trips to Haiti and also led numerous medical mission teams to Uganda and Boliva. In addition to his missionary work, John was instrumental in the construction of three schools in Uganda.

John is preceded in death by his mother, Louise Hester, and his sisters, Martha McLaurin and Ginger Beatty.

John is survived by his children Jackie and Randy Menefee, Allen Hester, Deloris Hester and Michelle Williams, and Jill and Charles Davis, his brother, Walter Jack Hester, and Betty Hester. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations in John's name can be made to the Raleigh Fireman's Club at 12601 Bayleaf Church Road, Raleigh, NC 27614.
The family of John Hester wishes to extend our sincere thanks to all of the employees of the Waldonwood Providence staff in Charlotte, NC with a special thanks to Karen Polce and Raven Covington and also, a special thanks to Katrina Conway with Bayada Home Care.