Lester Albert Malcolm, 94, Chanute, passed away at Hillview Nursing Center in Platte City, Mo., Friday, Sept. 13, 2013. He was born on Feb. 9, 1919, in Chanute, the son of Lester and Jessie Malcolm.
He served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII, was part of the invasion of Normandy and received a purple heart.
After the war he returned to Chanute and married June King on July 7, 1946. They moved to California where he worked in the civil service at Oakland Naval Air base. He later transferred to Norton Air Force Base in Riverside, Calif., and finished his career as an inspector for the Titan II missile program at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, Calif.
Lester was a member of the Cecil J. Meeker Lodge No. 1654 VFW, Elks Lodge No. 806, and the Boerstler-May Post No. 170 American Legion. He was also a Shriner.
Lester is survived by his children, Dan Malcolm, Kansas City, Mo., Lester Malcolm and wife RoseMarie, Riverside, Mo., and Vara Saunders, Colorado Springs, Colo.; five grandchildren, Bryan Malcolm, Taylor Malcolm, LesliAnne Malcolm, Mark Saunders, and Luke Saunders; and one great-grandchild, Eryn Saunders.
He was preceded in death by his wife, June, his parents and two sisters, Vera and Verna.
Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, Chanute. Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 1 until 2 p.m. at the Johnson Chapel.
Memorials in his name may be made to the American Cancer Society and may be left with the funeral home.
Lester Malcolm
