THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 16, 1995 TAG: 9509160229
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Lt. Col. Lester Tempelton Gayle, Jr. USA, Ret. 104, of the 3000 block of Atlantic Ave., died September 14, 1995.
Mr. Gayle was a native of Portsmouth, Virginia, and was a veteran of World Wars I and II. He lived in the Virginia Beach area for over 40 years.
He was a graduate of the Norfolk Academy and the oldest graduate of Virginia Military Institute (VMI). He was professor of Mathematics and English at VMI before being commissioned as a first Lieutenant in the 111th Field Artillery, Grimes Battery, National Guard, and saw service on the Mexican Border. Colonel Gayle went overseas with the First Expedition Force in the First World War and served with the First Division at the front. After serving a year at the front he transferred to the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps. After completing his training as a Combat Pilot, he was placed in Command of Field seven, Aviation Instruction Centre, Issoudun, France.
While returning from a flight, he crashed and was seriously wounded, for which he retired.
At the begining of World War II, he was called to active duty in the Inspector General's Department and did duty as Inspector General of the Asiatic Pacific Division of the Air Transport Command. At the end of World War II he retired and returned to Virginia Beach, where he went in the General Insurance, representing the Travelers Insurance until he retired.
He was a member of Galilee Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, Va., The Princess Anne Country Club, The Sons of the Revolution, The Virginia Beach Sports Club, Sigma Nu Social Fraternity, and the Scabbard and Blade Military Fraternity. He was a former President of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Retired Officers Association.
Survivors include his wife, Clarice Cook Gardner Gayle; a daughter, Mrs. Vincent Dewitt of Annapolis, Md.; a son, Richard G. Gayle of San Diego, Calif.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Galilee Episcopal Church in St. Andrews Chapel on Monday, September 18, 1995, at 2 p.m. by the Rev. John D. Burley. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, September 20, 1995, at 3 p.m. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel, is handling arrangements.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY
by CNB