Lester (Don) D. Stokes

Lester Darnell Stokes (Don), 79, of Leominster, MA, passed away on April 15, 2021 after a long battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was surrounded by his wife, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter at Leominster Hospital.

He is survived by his wife Eileen Moylen Stokes, son Barry and his wife Caroline Stokes, daughter Christine and her husband Jeff Gill, Grandchildren Jessica Wooster (Eric Chaves), Michael Wooster, Lauren Stokes (Ben) Gleason, James Stokes, and great-grandchildren Bennett Luke Chaves, Oliver Luke Chaves and Emilia Florence Gleason.  Eileen and Lester shared 47 wonderful, love-filled years together.  Lester was predeceased by his parents and brother Donald Stokes.  He is survived by his brother Billy Stokes and sister Barbara Fischer.

Lester was born on August 9, 1941 to Lester Levi and Gladys Ennis Stokes in Greenville, NC. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1958, he went to work for Thom McAn Shoe Co., eventually progressing to the position of Senior Internal Auditor. He worked for the corporation for 36 years. He met his wife, Eileen when his company relocated him to New Jersey in 1973. They were married in 1975 and then moved back to MA in 1976 to build a home in Bolton where they resided until 1998. He and Eileen then built another house in Fort Myers, Florida. They moved to Florida in 1998 where he spent 20 years working part time before retiring at 70 in 2011.  In 2018, they made the decision to move back to Massachusetts to be closer with their daughter and grandchildren. He also worked as a Laptop Technical  Support for NEC and for Sony. In his later retirement years, he obtained his Commercial Drivers License (CDL) and worked as a transportation driver in Florida.

Lester spent his time fishing and loved going on charter boats in Florida, golfing, watching football and car races and had a companionship with his beloved dog, Popsicle. He was an avid stock enthusiast and spent his mornings following and trading stocks. Lester had many hobbies and avocations throughout his life but, nothing brought him more joy than spending time with his family. He treasured his grandchildren and embraced every moment with them. He will be fondly remembered by always pronouncing “I love my family”.

Services will be held at Trinity Church, Bolton, MA on May 22 at 11:00 am.