VALLEY CENTER — Lucille P. Hester, 84, died Nov. 9 at Wheat State Manor in Whitewater. Born Oct. 14, 1926, in Hoisington, she was the daughter of William Glenn and Nellie B. (Westover) Gruber. On April 18, 1946, she married Raymond J. Hester in Hoisington. He died Dec. 20, 1985. A resident of Valley Center since 1958, moving from Hoisington, she was a retired cook for USD #262 in Valley Center.

Mrs. Hester was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Valley Center, where she was the church pianist for many years.

Survivors include a son, Peter C. Hester of Valley Center; four daughters, Julie Hein and husband John of Hoisington, Jayme Walker of Valley Center, Joni Rowl and husband Dennis of Derby and Janelle Ross and husband Jack of Wichita; two sisters, Thelma Brack of Hoisington and a twin sister, Louise Reed of Clermont, Fla.; a brother, Art C. Gruber of Norman, Okla.; eight grandchildren, Courtney Walker, Thomas Walker, Joelle Jacobs, Jason Rowl, Ryan Rowl, Andrew Rowl, Kyle Rowl and Jackie Ross; and four great-grandchildren, Haleigh Shofler, Jensen Jacobs, Jozie Jacobs and Brennan Rowl. She was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth, in 1951; two stillborn infants; a granddaughter, Frieda Ross; brothers William Glenn Gruber, Dr. E.E. Gruber, Milton Gruber; and a sister, Pauline Gruber.

Funeral service was at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Dennis Tracy officiating. Burial was at the Hoisington Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas or Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, both in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home*

415 N. Main/P.O. Box 146

Hoisington, KS 67544

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 14, 2010