Lester Irving Beal of Hendersonville, NC (May 2, 1947 – March 25, 2024)
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Lester I. Beal on March 25, 2024, at the age of 76. He died at his Hendersonville, NC home after an excruciating battle with malignant sarcomatoid mesothelioma.
Les was born May 2, 1947, in Saint Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada to Raymond F. and Vesta E.(Smith) Beal who resided across the river in Princeton, Maine. He graduated from Princeton High School and joined the Navy shortly after that, serving on the USS James Owens, USS Elkokomin, and USS Mitscher; the latter of which he was a plank owner. He worked as a salesman with Georgia Pacific for 15 years, as a caretaker of Camp Babcock in Grand Lake Stream, Maine for a few years, and as an Licensed Investigator for Martin County Florida until he retired. Sarcastic and charming, he always enjoyed life to the fullest.
Les will be deeply missed by his devoted partner of more than 35 years, Brenda Smith; his loving daughter Wendy Jean and her husband André F. Maquera of Vermont; his sister Ruth E. Blaney of Connecticut; his grandson, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends all over the country. He was preceded in death by his parents, their siblings, his infant brother Frank, and his sister Lorraine E. Beal.
No public services will be held, but we invite friends and family to remember Les in their own way. Donating to mesothelioma research is one way to help keep future families from losing loved ones to this horrible cancer.
