Lester Allen Van Vactor, 74, of Mexico, passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia.

Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 2, at Arnold Funeral Home with Rev. Jim Graham officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in East Lawn Memorial Park.

Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. on Friday evening at the funeral home.

Lester was born on October 10, 1949, in Mexico, the son of Austin Ellis and Gertrude (Bryan) Van Vactor. On June 9, 1973, in Mexico, he married Marilyn Carr.

Mr. Van Vactor was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam and was awarded a Purple Heart. In 2004, Lester went to Dohlonega, Georgia to meet with a few of the men he had served with in Vietnam. This is where he learned of his injuries while serving our country.

Lester worked for Walmart, A.P. Greens, Roberts Consolidated, Missouri Military Academy and then Pinkerton Security. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher.

Mr. Van Vactor loved music. He enjoyed sitting around with friends and family listening to many songs. "Freedom" and "Digging up Bones" were a couple of his favorites.  Lester also loved being around horses. He admired their bare natural freedom and sheer beauty.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Van Vactor of the home; two sons, Craig Van Vactor of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Patrick (Becca) Van Vactor of Mexico; one daughter, Marsha (Jeff) Stewart of Mexico; seven grandchildren, Dallas Van Vactor of Mexico, Patience Van Vactor of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Arion Van Vactor of Onyx, California, Deyton Stewart of Mexico, Jordan Van Vactor of Rush Hill, Nora Van Vactor of Mexico, and Griffin Van Vactor of Mexico; one brother, Eddie (Shirley) Van Vactor of Springfield; one sister, Hazel Schlotoch of Columbia; and several nieces and nephews.

Lester was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, James and Kenneth; and one sister, Velma Van Vactor.

Memorial donations may be made to the Children's Miracle Network.