Charles Robert Hester

Posted

Charles Robert Hester, 83, died April 18, 2015, quietly at his home.

Born Aug. 8, 1931, near Clarksville, Tennessee, he was a son of the late James Bert Hester and Tyson Lowder Hester. In 1933, Tyson moved her family back to her home in the Wilson community of Clarendon County. After graduating from Manning High School, Charles worked as a bookkeeper for the Clarendon County School Board, later going to work at Clarendon Memorial Hospital.

Starting as the bookkeeper, he rose to be the assistant administrator by the time he retired in 1996, after 39 years with the hospital.

After his retirement, he returned to Clarendon Memorial Hospital part-time, serving as the administrative representative on weekends. He was an active lifelong member of Union United Methodist Church at Wilson, where he contributed his time and talents as treasurer, church musician and in other ways too many to enumerate.

A renaissance man of eclectic interests, Charles Robert Hester was self-educated across a broad spectrum of subjects, including music, history, theology, art, theatre and interior design. He was an active participant in the Clarendon County Historical Society and the Swamp Fox Murals Trail Society, where he served as treasurer as well as having participated in other community activities.

Survivors include his nephews, Mitch Hester of Georgetown, John Hester of Summerville and Jim Van Laan (Nan) of Landrum; a niece, Virginia Sue Sinclair (Mark) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; his great-nieces and great-nephews, John David Hester, Martha Sinclair, Hester Rebecca Sinclair, Andrew Sinclair, Rob Sinclair, Peyton Hester and Wyatt Hester; his great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews, Josh, Trip, Noah and Audrey; a brother-in-law, Roger Van Laan of New Market, Maryland; and a sister-in-law, Marijon Hester of Summerville.

Survivors also include his Union Church family, his hospital family and many close friends and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by a brother, James Bert Hester Jr.; and a sister, Martha Ida "Sue" Hester Van Laan.

Funeral services for Charles Robert Hester will be held 11 a.m. Friday, April 24, 2015, at Union United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Wright Turbeville officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

James Hester, Wyatt Hester, Jim Van Laan, Mark Sinclair, Andrew Sinclair, Rob Sinclair, Buddy Holladay and James Tobias will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 23, 2015, at Stephens Funeral Home, and other times at the home, 42 W. Rigby St. in Manning.

Memorials may be made to Union United Methodist Church, c/o Dora Holladay, 1980 Lazy Daisy Road, Manning, SC 29102; or to Clarendon Habitat for Humanity, 8 N. Brooks St., Manning, SC 29102.

Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory, 304 N. Church St. in Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179.

www.stephensfuneralhome.org