Lester Watkins is Veteran of the Month

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Lester R. Watkins

PARIS — Lester R. Watkins (aka: Les, Wop, Bobby, Robert, and Bodgie) grew up in Seek, PA. He attended Girard College, a boy’s school, in Philadelphia. Lester joined the Navy, after graduating from high school, in May 1951 and was honorably discharged in January 1955. He served in the Korean War on the USS Irwin DD 794, which was based out of Newport, RI.

Lester did a lot of traveling during his time in the service; he went to Key West, The Panama Canal, Korea, Europe, Asia - pretty much all over the world. His motto is: “join the Navy and see the world.”

While in the service Lester worked as a Machinist Mate and ran the Forward Engine room. He achieved the rank of First Class Machinist Mate (MM1) and also received the Korean Service Medal, and the UN Service Medal.

After Lester’s service in the US Navy, he attended Spring Garden Institute in Philadelphia, where he received a degree in Mechanical Technology.

He worked at the Research & Development Corporation Aero Projects for three years; General Electric Space Division; RCA; Maine Electronics and retired from Data General in Westbrook after 18 years.

Lester’s hobby was flying. In 1959/60, he and a few friends scraped together enough money to buy an old Piper Cub. In later years he was an active member of the EAA, Experimental Aircraft Association, with interests in homebuilt aircraft.

Lester was married in the Congregational Church in Coaldale, PA, February 1962. He was married for 43 years. He has two children, a boy and a girl, a granddaughter and two nieces.

Lester resided in Pennsylvania until he moved his family to Maine in 1970. His wife, Elma, had spent summers in Maine, Lester had traveled to Maine and they both liked Maine so much they decided to make Maine their home.

Lester has been at the Maine Veterans’ Home since 2009. He likes to spend time on his computer “googling” and “researching.”

Thank you Lester for your service.