Notes from conversation with Lester, 1997
"I was born out in the country from Lenoir City, farmed mostly, (worked in hosiery mill later), we had a peach orchard. We had so many peaches we couldn't sell them all, hauled wagon loads and dumped them in creek, paid off the grocery bill with load of peaches, about 7500 peach trees,
Never learned to milk, Carl always milked. When we moved to Newport, I worked in hosiery mill (a knitting mill, ladies hose), wore dress shirts to work.
Farmed river bottom, raised peanuts, nut trees (don't know what kind), raised hogs, chickens, gardens.
Then went to Great Lakes, worked on ships hauling coal from the lower lakes to the north, iron ore on the return south run."
Lester served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was in the 58th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Army. He landed on Normandy one hour after the first landing. "Something happened to the tank driver, and I started driving the tank and drove all across France and Germany." After many months, an officer finally noticed that Lester was driving the tank, and he was promoted to the rank suitable for a tank driver. His unit was caught in the Battle of the Bulge; under orders, he burned his tank and walked out to safety. According to his Honorable Discharge document, battles and campaigns were Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes. Decorations and citations were EAME Theater Ribbon with 7 Bronze Stars with Bronze Service Arrowhead, and Good Conduct Ribbon.
After the war he returned to the Great Lakes, working as a chef on ships during the shipping season, and as a chef in Toledo, Ohio hotels during the winter.
He married Floda Armenda 'Jackie' Lindsay in 1945; two sons, Roger and Timothy were born. They divorced and Jackie remarried in 1967. Lester married Gertrude Ellene Dutcher in 1984.
Following retirement, Lester moved to Florida for a short time, then to Conover, NC near his brother, Carl, and sister Louise. Golf and bowling were his hobbies.
Knoxville News-Sentinel, The (TN) - Friday, October 8, 1999
PICKEL, LESTER ROY, age 86 of Conover, North Carolina, passed away October 6, 1999 at the Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation. He was born in Loudon County, Tenn. on August 28, 1913 to Francis Eaton & Mary Kate England, also preceded in death by brother, Carl E. Pickel.
He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army; a tank driver of the 3rd army. He landed on Normandy on the first day of the invasion of Europe. His unit was encircled in the Battle of the Bulge, and under orders he burned his tank and walked out to safety. His battle and campaigns were Tunsia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes. He received the EAME Theater Ribbon, 7 Bronze Stars, Bronze Service Arrowhead, and Good Conduct Ribbon.
Survivors wife, Gertrude E. Dutcher Pickel; sons, Roger Lester and wife, Pat Pickel, of Oregon, Ohio, Tim Lee and wife, Nancy Pickel, of Smyrna, Tenn.; sisters Louise Setzer of Newton, NC, Irene Delozier of Lake City, Tenn., Lillian Davis of Kodak, Tenn.; brother, Ralph Pickel of Kodak, Tenn.; stepdaughter, Shelly Wittke, of Holden, Louisiana; 4 grandchildren, Angelia Lynn Pickel Giffen, Roger Lester Pickel, Jr., Timothy Lee Pickel., Jr. Shawn Vincent Pickel.
Funeral services Saturday 11:00 a.m. Catawaba Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Homer Greene officiating. Interment in the Catawba Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers, Shawn Pickel, Eric Sigman, Carl Franklin Pickel, Dale Bruce Setzer, Paul Setzer, Dwayne Seiber. The family will receive friends Friday 7-8:30 p.m. at the Catawba Funeral Home, Hickory, North Carolina. {Obit furnished by Jane Lane (#46908160)
"I was born out in the country from Lenoir City, farmed mostly, (worked in hosiery mill later), we had a peach orchard. We had so many peaches we couldn't sell them all, hauled wagon loads and dumped them in creek, paid off the grocery bill with load of peaches, about 7500 peach trees,
Never learned to milk, Carl always milked. When we moved to Newport, I worked in hosiery mill (a knitting mill, ladies hose), wore dress shirts to work.
Farmed river bottom, raised peanuts, nut trees (don't know what kind), raised hogs, chickens, gardens.
Then went to Great Lakes, worked on ships hauling coal from the lower lakes to the north, iron ore on the return south run."
Lester served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was in the 58th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Army. He landed on Normandy one hour after the first landing. "Something happened to the tank driver, and I started driving the tank and drove all across France and Germany." After many months, an officer finally noticed that Lester was driving the tank, and he was promoted to the rank suitable for a tank driver. His unit was caught in the Battle of the Bulge; under orders, he burned his tank and walked out to safety. According to his Honorable Discharge document, battles and campaigns were Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes. Decorations and citations were EAME Theater Ribbon with 7 Bronze Stars with Bronze Service Arrowhead, and Good Conduct Ribbon.
After the war he returned to the Great Lakes, working as a chef on ships during the shipping season, and as a chef in Toledo, Ohio hotels during the winter.
He married Floda Armenda 'Jackie' Lindsay in 1945; two sons, Roger and Timothy were born. They divorced and Jackie remarried in 1967. Lester married Gertrude Ellene Dutcher in 1984.
Following retirement, Lester moved to Florida for a short time, then to Conover, NC near his brother, Carl, and sister Louise. Golf and bowling were his hobbies.
Knoxville News-Sentinel, The (TN) - Friday, October 8, 1999
PICKEL, LESTER ROY, age 86 of Conover, North Carolina, passed away October 6, 1999 at the Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation. He was born in Loudon County, Tenn. on August 28, 1913 to Francis Eaton & Mary Kate England, also preceded in death by brother, Carl E. Pickel.
He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army; a tank driver of the 3rd army. He landed on Normandy on the first day of the invasion of Europe. His unit was encircled in the Battle of the Bulge, and under orders he burned his tank and walked out to safety. His battle and campaigns were Tunsia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes. He received the EAME Theater Ribbon, 7 Bronze Stars, Bronze Service Arrowhead, and Good Conduct Ribbon.
Survivors wife, Gertrude E. Dutcher Pickel; sons, Roger Lester and wife, Pat Pickel, of Oregon, Ohio, Tim Lee and wife, Nancy Pickel, of Smyrna, Tenn.; sisters Louise Setzer of Newton, NC, Irene Delozier of Lake City, Tenn., Lillian Davis of Kodak, Tenn.; brother, Ralph Pickel of Kodak, Tenn.; stepdaughter, Shelly Wittke, of Holden, Louisiana; 4 grandchildren, Angelia Lynn Pickel Giffen, Roger Lester Pickel, Jr., Timothy Lee Pickel., Jr. Shawn Vincent Pickel.
Funeral services Saturday 11:00 a.m. Catawaba Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Homer Greene officiating. Interment in the Catawba Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers, Shawn Pickel, Eric Sigman, Carl Franklin Pickel, Dale Bruce Setzer, Paul Setzer, Dwayne Seiber. The family will receive friends Friday 7-8:30 p.m. at the Catawba Funeral Home, Hickory, North Carolina. {Obit furnished by Jane Lane (#46908160)
Notes from conversation with Lester, 1997
"I was born out in the country from Lenoir City, farmed mostly, (worked in hosiery mill later), we had a peach orchard. We had so many peaches we couldn't sell them all, hauled wagon loads and dumped them in creek, paid off the grocery bill with load of peaches, about 7500 peach trees,
Never learned to milk, Carl always milked. When we moved to Newport, I worked in hosiery mill (a knitting mill, ladies hose), wore dress shirts to work.
Farmed river bottom, raised peanuts, nut trees (don't know what kind), raised hogs, chickens, gardens.
Then went to Great Lakes, worked on ships hauling coal from the lower lakes to the north, iron ore on the return south run."
Lester served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was in the 58th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Army. He landed on Normandy one hour after the first landing. "Something happened to the tank driver, and I started driving the tank and drove all across France and Germany." After many months, an officer finally noticed that Lester was driving the tank, and he was promoted to the rank suitable for a tank driver. His unit was caught in the Battle of the Bulge; under orders, he burned his tank and walked out to safety. According to his Honorable Discharge document, battles and campaigns were Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes. Decorations and citations were EAME Theater Ribbon with 7 Bronze Stars with Bronze Service Arrowhead, and Good Conduct Ribbon.
After the war he returned to the Great Lakes, working as a chef on ships during the shipping season, and as a chef in Toledo, Ohio hotels during the winter.
He married Floda Armenda 'Jackie' Lindsay in 1945; two sons, Roger and Timothy were born. They divorced and Jackie remarried in 1967. Lester married Gertrude Ellene Dutcher in 1984.
Following retirement, Lester moved to Florida for a short time, then to Conover, NC near his brother, Carl, and sister Louise. Golf and bowling were his hobbies.
Knoxville News-Sentinel, The (TN) - Friday, October 8, 1999
PICKEL, LESTER ROY, age 86 of Conover, North Carolina, passed away October 6, 1999 at the Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation. He was born in Loudon County, Tenn. on August 28, 1913 to Francis Eaton & Mary Kate England, also preceded in death by brother, Carl E. Pickel.
He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army; a tank driver of the 3rd army. He landed on Normandy on the first day of the invasion of Europe. His unit was encircled in the Battle of the Bulge, and under orders he burned his tank and walked out to safety. His battle and campaigns were Tunsia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes. He received the EAME Theater Ribbon, 7 Bronze Stars, Bronze Service Arrowhead, and Good Conduct Ribbon.
Survivors wife, Gertrude E. Dutcher Pickel; sons, Roger Lester and wife, Pat Pickel, of Oregon, Ohio, Tim Lee and wife, Nancy Pickel, of Smyrna, Tenn.; sisters Louise Setzer of Newton, NC, Irene Delozier of Lake City, Tenn., Lillian Davis of Kodak, Tenn.; brother, Ralph Pickel of Kodak, Tenn.; stepdaughter, Shelly Wittke, of Holden, Louisiana; 4 grandchildren, Angelia Lynn Pickel Giffen, Roger Lester Pickel, Jr., Timothy Lee Pickel., Jr. Shawn Vincent Pickel.
Funeral services Saturday 11:00 a.m. Catawaba Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Homer Greene officiating. Interment in the Catawba Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers, Shawn Pickel, Eric Sigman, Carl Franklin Pickel, Dale Bruce Setzer, Paul Setzer, Dwayne Seiber. The family will receive friends Friday 7-8:30 p.m. at the Catawba Funeral Home, Hickory, North Carolina. {Obit furnished by Jane Lane (#46908160)
"I was born out in the country from Lenoir City, farmed mostly, (worked in hosiery mill later), we had a peach orchard. We had so many peaches we couldn't sell them all, hauled wagon loads and dumped them in creek, paid off the grocery bill with load of peaches, about 7500 peach trees,
Never learned to milk, Carl always milked. When we moved to Newport, I worked in hosiery mill (a knitting mill, ladies hose), wore dress shirts to work.
Farmed river bottom, raised peanuts, nut trees (don't know what kind), raised hogs, chickens, gardens.
Then went to Great Lakes, worked on ships hauling coal from the lower lakes to the north, iron ore on the return south run."
Lester served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was in the 58th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Army. He landed on Normandy one hour after the first landing. "Something happened to the tank driver, and I started driving the tank and drove all across France and Germany." After many months, an officer finally noticed that Lester was driving the tank, and he was promoted to the rank suitable for a tank driver. His unit was caught in the Battle of the Bulge; under orders, he burned his tank and walked out to safety. According to his Honorable Discharge document, battles and campaigns were Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes. Decorations and citations were EAME Theater Ribbon with 7 Bronze Stars with Bronze Service Arrowhead, and Good Conduct Ribbon.
After the war he returned to the Great Lakes, working as a chef on ships during the shipping season, and as a chef in Toledo, Ohio hotels during the winter.
He married Floda Armenda 'Jackie' Lindsay in 1945; two sons, Roger and Timothy were born. They divorced and Jackie remarried in 1967. Lester married Gertrude Ellene Dutcher in 1984.
Following retirement, Lester moved to Florida for a short time, then to Conover, NC near his brother, Carl, and sister Louise. Golf and bowling were his hobbies.
Knoxville News-Sentinel, The (TN) - Friday, October 8, 1999
PICKEL, LESTER ROY, age 86 of Conover, North Carolina, passed away October 6, 1999 at the Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation. He was born in Loudon County, Tenn. on August 28, 1913 to Francis Eaton & Mary Kate England, also preceded in death by brother, Carl E. Pickel.
He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army; a tank driver of the 3rd army. He landed on Normandy on the first day of the invasion of Europe. His unit was encircled in the Battle of the Bulge, and under orders he burned his tank and walked out to safety. His battle and campaigns were Tunsia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes. He received the EAME Theater Ribbon, 7 Bronze Stars, Bronze Service Arrowhead, and Good Conduct Ribbon.
Survivors wife, Gertrude E. Dutcher Pickel; sons, Roger Lester and wife, Pat Pickel, of Oregon, Ohio, Tim Lee and wife, Nancy Pickel, of Smyrna, Tenn.; sisters Louise Setzer of Newton, NC, Irene Delozier of Lake City, Tenn., Lillian Davis of Kodak, Tenn.; brother, Ralph Pickel of Kodak, Tenn.; stepdaughter, Shelly Wittke, of Holden, Louisiana; 4 grandchildren, Angelia Lynn Pickel Giffen, Roger Lester Pickel, Jr., Timothy Lee Pickel., Jr. Shawn Vincent Pickel.
Funeral services Saturday 11:00 a.m. Catawaba Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Homer Greene officiating. Interment in the Catawba Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers, Shawn Pickel, Eric Sigman, Carl Franklin Pickel, Dale Bruce Setzer, Paul Setzer, Dwayne Seiber. The family will receive friends Friday 7-8:30 p.m. at the Catawba Funeral Home, Hickory, North Carolina. {Obit furnished by Jane Lane (#46908160)
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