Lester Loyal Holbrook was born in Whitebird, Idaho on June 7, 1921. On Aug. 26, 2018, he left his Coupeville home to meet up with his bride, Dolores, in the presence of Jesus. Lester led a long and fruitful life. He worked in the Northern Idaho Civilian Conservation Corps, drove a produce truck to market, was a miner in the deepest shaft of the Sunshine Silver Mine and operated a crane in the Tacoma shipyards. He met the love of his life (Dolores) in Tacoma on a blind double date — and she wasn’t his date!

He served in the U.S. Army as a track gunner and forward observer/sniper in the Philippines during World War II. He returned with a Silver Star.

As did many others, he tried his hand at several jobs after the war including candy maker and furniture maker before finding his career as a baker at the Snohomish Bakery, where he worked for over 20 years

He served as the president of the American Gemological Society, received a Melvin Jones award from the Coupeville Lions and called bingo for Careage of Whidbey here in Coupeville.

He is survived by his three children, Carolyn Curl (Ron), Barbara Faught, and Roger Holbrook (Juliet); nine grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren so far. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com