ELKHART -- Darrell B. Lester Sr., 61, died at 11:10 a.m. Tuesday (June 8, 2010) in Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born Dec. 31, 1948, in Grundy, Va., to Bud and Alma (Horn) Lester. He married Phyllis M. "Phil" Tutorow Frazier on Dec. 31, 1974, in Wakarusa.

Surviving are his wife; mother; sons Darrell B. (Elizabeth) Lester Jr. and Ronald Lester, both of Elkhart; brothers Richard (Marsha) Lester of South Bend and Elijah "Buck" Lester of Elkhart; sisters Elizabeth (Clyde) Hulsey, Suie Pittman, Lena Owens and Rita (Vic) Conway, all of Elkhart. Granddaughter Hailey Lester survives as well.

His father; sister, Betty Goorhouse; and brother, Tony Lester, preceded him in death.

A celebration of Darrell's life will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, where a funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday. Pastor Victor R. Burson will officiate. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola.

Darrell had been a trucker for South Bend Freight, Patrick Industries and Pro Fleet, where he was an owner/operator. He enjoyed NASCAR and building race cars.