Charles Ronald \ Hester

WEAVERVILLE—Charles Ronald "Ronnie" Hester, age 60 of 3 Pleasant View Drive died Tuesday, September 23, 2008. Mr. Hester was born October 18, 1947 in Greenville, S.C. and was a resident of Buncombe County for most of his life. He was a biology teacher for 34 years, 32 of those years he taught at North Buncombe High School. Ronnie was a very devoted and loving husband to his wife, Debra Cole Hester, his soul mate of 35 years. They were married July 15, 1973. He was a loving and caring father to his children, a wonderful "Papa", and a friend to everyone he met. Mr. Hester was a devoted member of the Optimist Club of North Buncombe and a member of Beech-Reems Creek Presbyterian Church. He was the son of the late Charles W. and Elizabeth Babb Hester. Surviving in addition to his wife, Debra Cole Hester are his daughters, Donna Treakle and husband, Graham of Winston-Salem and Dawn Murray and husband Baretta of Weaverville; granddaughters, McKinley, Savannah and Jayden Treakle, Thai and Ashtyn Murray; grandson, Gabriel Treakle; sisters, Debbie Phillips of Spartanburg S.C. and Terri Fleischman of Greenville, S.C.; sister-in-law, Denise Head and husband Steve; brother-in-law, Austin Cole and wife Jan; honorary aunt, Isabel Cole all of Weaverville. A celebration of Ronnie's life will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday in First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville, with the Reverend Skip Gillikin. Private burial will be in the Clark's Chapel Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville. At other times, the family will be at the residence. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Optimist Club of North Buncombe, PO Box 278, Weaverville, NC 28787 or First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville, PO Box 247, Weaverville, NC 28787. A memorial tribute video will be available Thursday at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com under Ronnie's obituary.