Lester Bruce Stoner, 87, of Charleston, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2026, surrounded by his family after a brief illness.

Family and friends are invited to attend a public Mass, during which Lester will be remembered, at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at the Newman Catholic Center in Charleston, Illinois. Graveside services and burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston, Illinois at 11:30am. In lieu of gifts, donations may be made to Eastern Illinois University in the name of Richard Wise-Lester Stoner Undergraduate Scholarship in Geography. Your generosity is sincerely appreciated.

Lester was born on February 8, 1939 in Charleston, IL, the son of Carter and Sarah (Jones) Stoner. For elementary school he attended Buzzard Laboratory School on the Eastern Illinois University Campus. Afterward he attended and graduated from Charleston High School in 1957 where he was a multiple varsity athlete excelling in football.

After High School he enlisted in the United States Army National Guard and was discharged honorably. After his military service he attended Lakeland College in Mattoon, Illinois and pursued a general studies degree focused on Geology and Geography. As part of his coursework, he assisted in the authoring, development, and illustration of the subject of the Hawaiian Islands archipelago to teach future college students. This is where he began as a teacher for college students. After obtaining his general studies degree from Lakeland he attended and graduated from Eastern Illinois University obtaining his Bachelor's Degree.

Lester was a dedicated faculty member of the Geology and Geography Department at Eastern Illinois University. He was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Lester was also a carpenter who built homes and later developed the Stoner Estates Subdivision on the southeast of Charleston.

He was also an avid gardener, painter and artist, skilled woodworker, and a freelance independent cartographer.

Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth; children: Yvonne Stoner of Mattoon, IL, Elizabeth (Deverick) Lampley of Huntington Beach, CA, Sarah Keel of Moweaqua, IL, Franklin (Jodi) Stoner of Clark, MO, Lester (Carrie) Stoner II of Calais, VT, and Delia (Matthew) Jackson of Moweaqua, IL; twelve grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his father Carter Stoner, Sarah (Jones) Stoner, his son, Gregory Stoner, and his daughter Melissa Susan Stoner. Also preceding him in death were his 11 siblings. Sisters: Ruth, Helen, Eula, Darlene, Dorothy, Emma and Eleanor. Brothers: Leland, Richard, Renee, and John.

Seitz Funeral Home, Moweaqua, has been entrusted with the care and service arrangements.  Condolences for the family may be left at www.seitzfh.com