Ben W Koester

Ben W. Koester December 4, 1918 September 11, 2009 Ben W. Koester, 90, our beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather was united with our Lord and Savior on Friday, September 11, 2009. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 14 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2 Ritchie Road, Waco, Texas 76712 with Pastor Jim Menke officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Visitation with the family will begin at 5:00 p.m., Sunday, September 13 in the Garden Room at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Mr. Koester was born December 4, 1918 in Otto, Texas and lived with his beloved wife of 59 years and family his entire life in Central Texas. He was a veteran of World War II having served his country in the U.S. Army stationed in Bermuda. Mr. Koester was a charter member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Waco. He was employed by Owens-Illinois Glass Plant in Waco for 34 years having retired in 1978. Mr. Koester enjoyed tending to his garden every year. He was an avid and experienced fisherman predominately catfishing along the banks of our local lakes and rivers. He also enjoyed metal detecting with his many friends and family members. Mr. Koester was steadfast in his faith, completely devoted to his wife and family, and always the perfect gentleman that we will miss dearly. He was preceded in death by wife, Myrtle, and son-in-law, Bill Skinner. He is survived by his faithful daughter, Debbie Skinner; devoted son, Larry Koester and wife, Linda; loyal grandson, Don Perkins and wife, Traci; granddaughter, Amanda Koester; great grandchildren, Alexandra and "Little" Ben Perkins. The family requests that memorial donations be made to Trinity Lutheran Church. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook"at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey