Lester A. Herr

Lester A. Herr, 93, passed away on Sunday, October 21st, 2012 at Willow Valley of Willow Street, where he had resided for the past 23 years. He was the husband of Nettie Edelman Chalson Herr and his first wife, the late Marjorie (Gusshee) Herr, who passed away in 1990.

Lester was the first born of a family of seven to Noah S. and Zelva Carlin Herr on his grandfather Carlin's farm, five miles south of Parkesburg, PA.

He attended a one-room eight-grade rural elementary school, Coatesville High School and graduated from West Chester University in 1940 with a BS degree in Secondary Education. His first teaching position was in a high school at Pt. Pleasant Beach, N.J. where he taught classes in science, math and instrumental music. He also directed the school band.

He was drafted into the Army in 1942 and was assigned to the training cadre for new recruits in the infantry. Later he was selected for the Army Specialized Training Program and sent to Ohio State University for a year's study in civil engineering. He was discharged from the combat engineers in 1944 because of a training injury.

He then returned to his teaching position in N.J. and earned his permanent teaching certificate. Wishing to pursue his civil engineering he returned to Ohio State and received an instructorship in the College of Engineering to teach theoretical and applied mechanics while earning BS and MS degrees in civil engineering.

After taking a written Federal examination, he was selected fro a position as a bridge engineer in the Pacific Northwest where he was assigned to construction. Shortly, because of his training in hydraulics, he became involved in problems dealing with highway drainage and floods. In 1959 he was transferred to Washington Headquarters to establish the Hydrological and Hydraulics Branch of the Bridge Division.

He is survived, in addition to his wife, by two children Dana Herr of Springfield, VA and Melissa Herr of Annandale, VA and four siblings; Elizabeth Horrex of Oxford, John Herr of Avondale, Mary Weiser of Coatesville and Allen Herr of Christiana. He was preceded in death by two siblings; Charles Herr and Elizabeth Kuhn.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, October 26, 2012 at 10:30 am from the Auditorium, 300 Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow Street, PA. Interment will be private. Memorial donations may be in Lester's memory to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by the Wilde Funeral Home, Parkesburg, PA.

Online condolences may be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com