Lester Perry Weathers passed into the arms of his heavenly father June 14 2007. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11:00 AM at The Castellaw Funeral Home in Smyrna GA. . Burial with Full Military Honors will be at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton Georgia at 1:30 PM pm. Lester was born in Kemper County Mississippi on March 12 1917 to a family of seven brothers and two sisters. Although born to a poor sharecropper family he grasped the importance of an education. He graduated from high school as class salutatorian and was a star basketball player. He attended East Central Junior College until finances interrupted further study. He worked in a saw mill for 17½ cents an hour and later served with the post-depression Civilian Conservation Corps in the State of Utah. When Pearl Harbor was attacked he answered his country's call and volunteered for the United States Army. He honorably served his country for five years twenty-two months of which were spent in the jungles of the Philippine Islands. In 1942 he married the love of his life Louise. Lester and Louise celebrated their 65th anniversary in April of this year. After his military service with the help of the GI Bill Lester returned to school to finish his junior college education. He then attended Mississippi Southern College where he received both undergraduate and graduate degrees. He taught school and coached basketball in Mississippi for several years. In 1953 he moved his young family to Smyrna Georgia where he taught Algebra at Campbell High School. He retired from the teaching profession in 1979. During his 35 years in the classroom Lester positively impacted thousands of students. One of his former students in Mississippi who happened to be deaf reflected that if it had not been for Lester he likely would have been relegated to pulling around a cotton sack for the rest of his life. This young man through the love and mentoring of his teacher and coach went on to play college basketball and receive his degree. In 2000 Lester and Louise moved to Ormond Beach Florida where he resided until his death. He loved tending his grapefruit trees which were always extremely productive and was considered by many to be an expert in growing tomatoes. Lester was an avid Atlanta Braves fan. He loved his children and grandchildren hard work the sunshine and being outside. He had the highest integrity and a terrific sense of humor that continued up to the day of his passing. He loved and touched the lives of countless people and never met a stranger. Lester's patriotism love of country and commitment to education were values that he passed on to his children and grandchildren. He supported them in all their endeavors offering encouragement always and advice only when asked. Lester took a special delight in his grandchildren's educational achievements and exhibited a pride known only by one who also had served in his grandson's decision to answer the call of our time by serving his country in the United States Marine Corps. Lester leaves to cherish his memory Louise his wife of sixty-five years; a son Mike and wife Sharon of Midland Texas; daughter Sandra Gioiosa and husband Tommy of Ormond Beach Florida; and daughter Betty Carlisle and husband Larry of Woodstock Georgia. He is also survived by grandchildren 1st Lieutenant Adam Weathers and wife Krista of Jacksonville NC; Jenna Weathers of Midland Texas; and Gloria Ann and David Carlisle of Woodstock Georgia. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are under the careful direction of Lohman Funeral Home Ormond.