Lester G. Flesner

Lester G. Flesner, 101, beloved husband of the late Helen L. Flesner. Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma to George and Mabel Flesner and was the eldest of eight brothers and sisters.  An alumnus of Oklahoma State University received his BS and MS degrees in Agriculture and Vocational Education.

Married Helen L. Bebout, Bartlesville, Oklahoma and moved to Tahlequah, Oklahoma; two children, son William G. Flesner, Santa Fe, New Mexico; and daughter, Jane Brown Hopkins, Clemson, SC.

While teaching for almost ten years in public schools and at Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, he became director and president of the Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce.  Embarking on his organizational management career, from 1946 to 1950 he served as manager of the Guthrie, Oklahoma, Chamber of Commerce, and in 1949 was president of the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives Association.  From 1951 to 1953 he was manager of the Borger, Texas Chamber, and then joined the United States Chamber as Southwestern Division district manager in charge of its Houston office.  In 1958 he moved to Washington, DC headquarters as Director of State Executives associations and Assistant Manager of the national organization’s Local Chamber of Commerce Service Department.

In 1965 he made a move to Chicago, IL to become the Executive Vice President of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, an affiliate of National Real Estate Boards.  In 1968 he returned to Houston, Texas to become an owner/manager of a franchise management counseling and career consulting firm; retired and moved to Pendleton, SC in 1990. 

He was a very active and faithful member of Pendleton United Methodist Church and had the joy of working with Salkehatchie many summers. 

He is survived by his son William G. Flesner and his wife, Pam of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and daughter Jane Brown Hopkins and her husband, Bobby of Clemson, SC.  “Papa” is survived by 7 grandchildren, Stephanie Cookson (Dave), Wendy Weldon (Tom), Michelle White (Dennis), Kelly Gurley (Matt), Christopher Flesner, Scott Gaspard and Shantal Milner, and 12 great grandchildren, Lauren & Sean Stephansen; Andy, Hank, Trey and Renee Weldon; Kirsten Brown; Rachel and Hayden Gurley; Morgan and Justin Milner; and Hailey Flesner. 

In addition to his wife, parents and sibilings, he was preceded in death by one grandson, William Flesner.

The celebration of a life well lived will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, February 14, 2016 at Pendleton United Methodist Church, 217 S. Broad St., Pendleton, SC 29670.  Visitation immediately following in the social hall of the church.   In lieu of flowers please send donations to Pendleton United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 646, Pendleton, SC  29670 or GHS Hospice of the Foothills, 390 Keowee School Rd., Seneca, SC 29672.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home in Central, SC.