Lester W. Formby, 85, died on July 17, 2024, at his home in Lampasas.
A celebration of his life will be held at Lampasas Methodist Church at 11 a.m. July 26. Pastor Paul Allan will officiate. Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel has charge of arrangements.
Lester was born on Sept. 4, 1938, in Lampasas to Lester Formby Sr. and Pauline (Parson) Formby. He grew up in Lampasas, Alice, Freer and Victoria but considered his home base Lampasas.
Lester loved the outdoors. He grew up hunting, fishing, riding bikes, and playing with his siblings and friends.
He graduated from Lampasas High School in 1957. After high school, he earned his degree from Southwest Texas State University.
He began his career working with the State of Texas, Texas Instruments, Xerox and Tracor.
Lester started his longtime career with Motorola in 1980 as the compensation and benefits manager. In 1982, he was selected to be director of personnel for Southeast Asia and moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In this role, he had the responsibility for international corporate personnel support activities for production and sales operations in Australia, Singapore, Thailand and Kuala Lumpur, Seremban and Penang, Malaysia.
Lester returned to Austin as the personnel service manager before being transferred to Scottsdale, Arizona, as the director of international human resources, Semiconductor Products Sector.
After Scottsdale, he accepted the position of director, Global Assignment Centers in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Lester served on several committees of the Chamber of Commerce and on the board of directors of the following organizations: Junior Achievement, Texas Association of Minority Engineers, Private Industry Council, Paramount Theater, Austin Community Theater, Austin United Way, Oak Hill Optimist and Better Business Bureau of Central Texas. He served as a member of the Science Academy Advisory Board and a member of the Seton Hospital HR Advisory Council. He was made a life member of the Texas Association of Business.
While working at Tracor, Lester met Paula Bergeron whom he loved for 46 years. They married in 1980 in Rockdale.
Upon retirement, Lester and Paula returned to his hometown of Lampasas.
He was a member of Lampasas Methodist Church. He enjoyed reconnecting with his Class of ‘57 friends and especially enjoyed weekly breakfast gatherings with his lifelong buddies.
Lester cared deeply for his family and friends. He never met a stranger and always had a warm smile and genuine laugh for everyone.
He was preceded in death by his siblings Benny, Bobby and Norma.
He is survived by his wife, Paula (Bergeron) Formby of Lampasas; son, DeWayne Formby of Houston; daughter, DeAnne Formby Hart of Leander; granddaughter, Katelyn Ivy Franklin; great-grandchildren Porter and Parker Robles; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lampasas Methodist Church.
