Floyd Kester

Oct. 4, 1928 – Oct. 28, 2022

Floyd Kester (Kister) died peacefully at age 94 at the Washington Veterans Home in Port Orchard, Wash. He was born Oct. 4, 1928 in Ritzville, Wash. to Marie Catharine (Katie) Arnst and Henry Kister; the second of four children. As happened with many German immigrants the family name was changed based on how the immigration office heard the name and so it was spelled Kister at Ellis Island but other family members, born in the US, spelled the name with an "e." As a young man, Floyd officially changed his name to Kester. Floyd graduated from Odessa High School in 1946. He served in the US Army 1950-1952 stationed at Fort Warden, Wash. and the Nevada Atomic Testing Site. His experiences in the service were life changing for a red headed farm kid from eastern Washington.

Floyd married Lois Collett Sept. 3, 1955. They made their home in Spokane where they raised their three children. They divorced after 30 years but remained connected through their children and grandchildren. He later married Anita Pohl Roberts.

Floyd worked in the tire industry most of his adult life as a salesman and tire shop owner. He was an active member of Westminster Congregational Church UCC and the Spokane Elks Lodge. He was involved with his sons' Boy Scout troop and was proud that they and all four grandsons achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

Floyd fondly remembered many hunting and fishing adventures, especially hunting moose in Canada and salmon fishing at Neah Bay. He enjoyed cheering on the WSU Cougars and Seahawks, boating, camping, and time at Deer Lake and Lake Coeur d'Alene. He learned to snow ski in his 60s and he and Anita traveled extensively in retirement.

He is survived by his children Sharon (Bill) Linton of Camano Island, Alan (Michelle) Kester of Silverdale and David (Kathryn) Kester of Lopez Island and six grandchildren, Andrew (Sara) and Peter Linton, Adam (Michelle) and Laura (Evan), Christine and Ryan Kester and two great grandsons Thomas and James Kester. He is also remembered by Anita's family, JoAnn Roberts (Diane Brians), Patty Roberts Primmer and Mary Roberts and grandchildren, Bailey Roberts, Preston and Megan Primmer (Stephen Heinig) and Michael Primmer (deceased.) He is preceded in death by Lois and Anita, by his Kister siblings Emil, Eugene and Alma and half-siblings Arthur, Alvin, Everett, Florence, and Theodore Miller.

A memorial will be held Nov. 12 at Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home in Bremerton. Floyd will be laid to rest at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery-Medical Lake on Mon., Nov. 21, at 11am.

For more details and condolences visit http://www.tinyurl.com/FloydKester