LUGOFF – A gathering of family and friends to celebrate the life of CSM Lester W. Conover, Jr., US Army (Ret’d), 81, will be held Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home. A graveside service with full military honors will be held Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. in Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Lester was born on August 28, 1931 in Red Bank, N.J., the son of the late Ed and Viola Hendrickson. Les passed away on September 21, 2012. Entering the U.S. Navy in 1949, he served aboard the U.C. Coral Sea until 1953. In 1957, he joined the U.S. Army serving two tours in Vietnam returning with a Purple Heart. He retired as a Command Sergeant Major after 35 years of service. Les was a member of the American Legion and VFW. He was an avid golfer and played with the Cockfield Group at Fort Jackson. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and was a Master Gardener with a great love for nature. Lester enjoyed many genres of music, especially opera and Big Band. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Les Conover is survived by his wife, Anita Constance VanToorenburg Conover; daughters, Machelle Dame (Jeffery), Anita Alexander, Jennifer VanToorenburg (Robert) and Krista Plunkett; and grandchildren, Lindsey, Zack, Rachel, Trinity and Alyssa. He was predeceased by his brother, Eddie Conover. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children Research.