Flora Lester, a lifetime resident of Los Banos, died peacefully in her home of 63 years, on April 29, 2015 at the age of 90. Mrs. Lester was born November 25, 1924 in a barn on a dairy in the Badger Flat area. She attended Los Banos Schools and graduated from Westside Union High School.
In 1944, a young sailor from West Virginia stopped in Los Banos to have a beer and spied a carload of young women. That sailor, John Lester, picked the "prettiest girl in the car." Such begin a 71 year love affair. They were married at the Merced County Courthouse on August 21, 1946.
While John served in the US Navy, the couple lived in Vallejo, San Francisco, Long Beach, Bloomington, National City and San Diego while his ship was in port, Flora, a first generation Italian American, returned to Los Banos to be with her family, while John was at sea. When John was discharged in June of 1952, they made Los Banos their permanent home.
Throughout her life, Flora love to garden, fish, camp, gamble and travel. But above all else, she loved a house full of her children and grandchildren and their friends. Everyone was welcome in her home, and they all had to eat. Her greatest joy was the love of her family.
Flora was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Maria Buffuna, her siblings; Theresa Buffuna, Jeanette Alberti, Rose Thomas and Tony Buffuna.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 70 years, her five children and their spouses; Pat and John Mize, Janice "Jan" and the late Rick Becker, Lora Brazil, Karen and Jesse Gamino, and Bruce Lester. In addition, Flora had 12 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.
Viewing will be held at Whitehurst Funeral Chpe in Los Banos on Monday, May 4, 2015 at 11am and the Funeral Service will be at 12 pm. A reception will follow. The family wishes to express its deepest gratitude to Amy Wiley, Laura Maciel, Norma Contreras, Hinds Hospice and Dr. Juan Vergara for the compassionate care they provided our wife, mother and grandmother.