Lester E. Poese

Lester E. Poese, age 97 of Knoxville, passed away Thursday, December 30, 2010 at home. He was a member of Praise Temple Church of God in Alcoa, TN. He was preceded in death by his wife, Violet M. Poese and sister, Mildred McConnell. His memory will be cherished by his survivors daughter Carol J. Fry and husband Larry Fry of Stewartstown, PA, daughter M. Katherine Poese and husband Tom Rinehart of Knoxville, grandchildren, Taylor Rinehart, Jama Rinehart, Jody Fry Weist, and great grandson, Jacob Weist. He was born April 1, 1913, grew up on a farm along the Missouri River and attended a one room schoolhouse in St. Charles, Missouri. He graduated from Missouri School of Mines in 1934 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He held several positions as a Chemical Engineer with National Lead Co., Merck Pharmaceutical Co. and the Department of Defense as well as being owner of a petroleum distribution business for several years. He met his wife, Violet, while working in New Jersey and they eloped soon thereafter. They remained a source of strength and love for each other through many years and many moves around the eastern United States until her death after 69 years of marriage in 2006. Due to his wife’s declining health they moved to the Shannondale Retirement Community in 2000, Here his warm spirit and positive attitude was a constant source of joy and inspiration for his many friends and family. He could often be found working in his flower and vegetable garden, even up until the start of his recent illness at the age of 94. Receiving of friends will be at 6:00 pm followed by funeral services at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 4 in McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home Chapel, Maryville, TN, with Rev. H. Wayne Simmons officiating. Family and friends will meet at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Grandview Cemetery for the interment service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Praise Temple Assembly of God, 1873 N. Wright Road, Alcoa, TN 37701. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com