Kendrick Hester

Rufus Kendrick Hester, age 94 of Bladenboro, a World War II veteran, died on Friday, July 20, 2018.

Kendrick was born on April 27, 1924 and was a lifetime resident of Bladen County, NC. He was the oldest of six children born to Fred and Edith Hester. He graduated from Bladenboro High School in 1941, and attended N.C. State College but was soon drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in World War II as an infantryman in the European Theater of Operations primarily in Germany.

Upon his completion of military service in 1946, he married Esther Bowen and they operated a farm in Bladenboro. He soon became affiliated with the Crop Production Adjustment Administration in Bladen County, and in 1957, he became the Executive Director of the Bladen County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, an office of the USDA, which he held until his retirement in 1984.

Kendrick enjoyed tending to his "square foot" garden, beekeeping, and fishing. He was a life-long member of Zion Hill Baptist Church in Bladenboro and a member of the Bladenboro Rotary Club for more than 50 years. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Esther B. Hester, a son, Hiram Hester, brothers Broadus, Ernest and Ewen Hester, and an infant sister. He is survived by two sons and their wives, Gordon and Benita Hester of Hope Mills, Murray and Deborah Hester of Bladenboro, daughter-in-law, Micha Hester of Bladenboro, three granddaughters, Lisa Hester of Shallotte, Audra West and husband Steve of Bladenboro, Hilary Johnson and husband David of Bladenboro. Two great-grandchildren, Logan and Megan West, a sister, Hilda Coleman and husband Vollie of Bladenboro. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 22, 2018 from 2 to 3:30pm at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Bladenboro, NC prior to his funeral at 4pm. His funeral will be conducted by Rev. Chris Hefner and Dr. Mack Roberts, and the burial will take place immediately afterwards at Hickory Grove Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to Zion Hill Baptist Church PO Box 7 Bladenboro, NC 28320.