Lester Wooten's Obituary
Lester Dean Wooten, 82, passed away Monday, October 2, 2017 at The Texas Heart Institute – St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. He was born June 28, 1935 in Barnard, MO to Melvin and Mabel (Davidson) Wooten.
Lester grew up in northwest Missouri where he graduated from Barnard High School in 1953. After school, he attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO where he received a BS in Education.
He taught briefly before he began a career in insurance, which brought him and his family to Longview in 1968. He established the Kansas City Life Insurance agency, received his CLU, and was active in the community. His career took a dramatic turn when he helped to found, and in 1979 became the full-time pastor of, Longview Christian Fellowship Church. He pastored until 1995 when his health prevented him from giving his all to the ministry.
Lester married Darlene Stamp May 27, 1956 in Atlantic, Iowa. They were happily married for 62 years. Lester’s greatest joy was his family – immediate, and church family. He was a father figure to many.
He is survived by his wife, Darlene of Longview, TX; his four children Leslie (Bob) Cammack, Darla (Joe) McNamara, both of Longview, Diana (Peter) Townes of Midland, TX, and Dean (Kristi) Wooten of Chesapeake, VA; sisters Beverly (Bob) Alford of Barnard, MO, and Barbara (Roy) Duncan of Gallatin, MO; Grandchildren: Benjamin (Virginia) Cammack, Jeremy (Shea) Cammack, Rachel (Charles) Newlin, Hannah (James) Williams, all of Longview, Adam (Julianne) Cammack, Caleb Cammack, both of Tulsa, OK., Kate (Ben) Wallis of Flower Mound, TX , Kara (Brian) Beam of Tulsa, Hayley (Bryce) Smolen of Houston, TX, Grant (Taylor) McNamara of Tulsa, Sam Townes of Chattanooga, TN, Audrey Townes, Thad Townes (fiancée Alexandra Gardner), and Taylor Townes all of Lubbock, Kaci Wooten and Kaylie Wooten of Chesapeake, VA.
Great Grandchildren: Preston, Marcus, Joel, Adalyn, Colette, and Lena Cammack; Makinzie, Abigale, Claire, Joshua, and Katherine Cammack; Madison, Morgan, Molly, and Meg Newlin; Dakota, Zoe, Jack, Elizabeth, and Wyatt Williams; Theodore Cammack; Emma, Ellie and Ethan Wallis; Rhett Beam and (any day) Brady Beam; Parker Kate Smolen; and other nieces and nephews.
Lester was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Gene Wooten, Beatrice Wooten Aldridge, and Curtis Wooten; and his namesake, infant grandson Daniel Dean Wooten.
A Celebration Service, which follows a private Family Service, will be held Friday, October 6 at 1 pm at HighRidge Church (formerly Longview Christian Fellowship Church) 2101 West Marshall Ave. Longview, TX. A Visitation will be held at Rader Funeral Home at 1617 Judson Road in Longview, Thursday, October 5 from 5-7 pm.
As one of the founders and one of it’s greatest supports, the family requests memorials to honor Lester be made to Longview Christian School 1236 Pegues Place, Longview, TX 75601 or online http://www.lcseagles.com/about/donate.
The service will be available via Facebook live at Ben Cammack Facebook page.
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