Lester McCurry Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Lester C. McCurry, 90, of Dorchester, South Carolina, husband of Ida Lee Hilton McCurry, entered the gates of heaven on 24 May 2022. Visitation with the family will be on 28 May 2022 at 10:00 a.m. with the funeral at 11:00 a.m. at Limestone Baptist Church, 1890 East Main Street Dorchester, SC 29437. Burial will be at the adjacent church graveyard. Lester was born on 20 August 1931 in Unicoi County, Tennessee. His parents were Lester McCurry and Lurla Mae Brummett McCurry. During the 1940s his family moved to an area outside of Washington, D.C. for a time. The rest of his early life was spent in Unicoi County. Like a true Appalachian, he had a penchant for telling tall tales and exaggeration. Following the lead of some of his paternal ancestors, who served in the American Revolution and the Civil War, Lester decided to join the United States Air Force. He wanted to travel and see other places. He served in several capacities from airplane mechanic in his early enlisted years to the chief of automatic flight control as an instructor. He achieved the rank of Senior Master Sergeant during his twenty years of service. He earned a number of medals/ribbons including the USAF Good Conduct Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters and the USAF Outstanding Unit Award. He served at several air force bases including the following- Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas, Hickam AFB in Oahu, HA, Travis AFB in Fairfield-Suisun, CA, Chanute AFB in Rantoul, IL, Seymore Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, NC, and Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage Alaska. He retired after a second duty post at Chanute AFB. Lester’s education included the following- a Unicoi County High School diploma, an Associate of Arts degree in Business from Vallejo Junior College in Vallejo, CA. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Science from The Baptist College at Charleston/Charleston Southern University. He also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Specialist in Education degree from The Citadel. Upon his USAF retirement, he and his family moved to South Carolina where he became a teacher and worked in Dorchester School Districts Two and Four as well as at Dorchester Academy. Lester influenced the lives of thousands of young people in the community. He served as a deacon and teacher for decades at Limestone Baptist Church. He also served in The Gideon’s International to help share the gospel around the world. Lester is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Ida Hilton McCurry. Left to cherish his memory are three daughters: Cynthia McCurry Putman (Wayne), Deborah McCurry Peek (Michael), and Angela McCurry Cartin (Leyon). His grandchildren are: Jonathan Wayne Putman (Kasia), Caroline Peek Dix (Alan), Philip Levern Cartin (Jenna), Brandon Michael Peek, Alex Leyon Cartin, and Curtis Lee Peek (Katherine). Great-grandsons include Braden Dix and Remington James Cartin. He was predeceased by his brother, Donald James McCurry, Sr. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to The Gideons International. Arrangements are coordinated by James A. Dyal Funeral Home, 303 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC.

Lester McCurry

August 20, 1931 - May 24, 2022