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Heights Funeral Home obituary
1317 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77008 | 713-862-8844

Ray Wilburn Hester Jr.
August 14, 1928 - June 19, 2016

Visitation
Friday, June 24, 2016 | 10:00 am - 11:15 am
Heights Funeral Home
1317 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77008
Driving Directions

Funeral Service
Friday, June 24, 2016 | 11:15 am - 12:00 pm
Heights Funeral Home
1317 Heights Blvd, Houston, Texas 77008
Driving Directions

Committal Service
Friday, June 24, 2016 | 12:45 pm - 1:15 pm
Houston National Cemetery
10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, Texas 77038
Driving Directions

Ray W. Hester, Jr., born in Houston, Texas, August 14, 1928, passed away on June 19, 2016, in Austin, Texas, in the loving care of his wife, Linda.
Ray grew up in the Houston Heights and graduated from John H. Reagan High School. He was a proud member of the Texas A&M University class of 1950 and a member of the Aggie Corps of Cadets. After college, he served 4 years of active duty in the United States Naval Air Corps during the Korean conflict.
Ray enjoyed a long, successful career as a Licensed Professional Engineer. Some of his projects included work on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and building docks in Iran to transport oil. He spent the final 26 years of his work career at S&B Engineers in Houston as Department Head of the Architectural, Civil, and Structural Engineering Department. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray W. Hester, Sr., and Hixie Meadows Hester Thornton, also by brothers Gilbert Hester and Ralph Thornton, grandson, Zachary Hester, and nephew, Wade Thornton. Ray is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 32 years, Linda. Other survivors include sons Bob Hester (wife Sue), Vincent Hester (wife Peggy), Arthur Hester, and stepson Greg Swinney (wife Lyra). Daughters include Charlotte Cooling-Groves and Desiree Carr (husband Lon). Brothers include Charles Thornton (wife Dee) and Harold Thornton (wife Mary) and sister-in-law Rose Hester. Grandchildren include Jessica Cooling, Sheldon Groves, Daniel Hester, Jesse Hester, Nicci Hester, Wayne Hester, Christen Hester, and Caroline Swinney. He also leaves 7 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Ray enjoyed golf, local coffee shops, crossword puzzles, Texas 42, college baseball, holding hands with Linda, anything and everything about Texas A&M, but most of all, PEOPLE. Ray never met a stranger and could always put a smile on anyone's face. Ray was a very kind and considerate man with a strong belief in his savior Jesus Christ. He was much loved and respected by all those who knew him. Services will be at the Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX (713) 862-8844, on Friday, June 24. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., funeral service at 11:15 a.m., interment at Houston National Cemetery at 12:45 p.m.

Please consider contributions to The Salvation Army Austin Area Command, P.O. Box 1000, Austin, TX 78767.

Arrangements under the direction of Heights Funeral Home, Houston, TX.