Lester Wiley Formby, Jr.

Lester W. Formby, 85, returned to his heavenly home on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at his home in Lampasas, Texas, surrounded by his family.  A Celebration of Life service will be held at Lampasas Methodist Church, 2 Alexander Ln, Lampasas, TX at 11:00 AM, July 26, 2024.  Pastor Paul Allan will be officiating.

Lester was born on September 4, 1938, in Lampasas, to Lester Formby, Sr. and Pauline (Parson) Formby.  He grew up in Lampasas, Alice, Freer, and Victoria but considered his home base Lampasas.  Lester loved the outdoors.  He grew up hunting, fishing, riding bikes, and playing with his siblings and friends.

He graduated from Lampasas High School in 1957.  After high school, he earned his degree from Southwest Texas State University.  He began his career working with the State of Texas, Texas Instruments, Xerox, and Tracor.  Lester began his longtime career with Motorola in 1980 as the Compensation and Benefits Manager.  In 1982, he was selected to be the Director of Personnel for Southeast Asia and moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  In this role, he had the responsibility for international corporate personnel support activities for production and sales operations in Australia, Singapore, Thailand, and Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, and Penang, Malaysia.  Lester returned to Austin as the Personnel Service Manager before being transferred to Scottsdale, Arizona, as the Director of International Human Resources, Semiconductor Products Sector.  After Scottsdale, he accepted the position of Director, Global Assignment Centers in Schaumburg, Illinois. 

Lester served on several committees of the Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of Directors of the following organizations: Junior Achievement; TAME (Texas Association of Minority Engineers); Private Industry Council; Paramount Theater; Austin Community Theater; Austin United Way; Oak Hill Optimist; and the Better Business Bureau of Central Texas.  He served as a member of the Science Academy Advisory Board, and a member of the Seton Hospital HR Advisory Council.  He was made a life member of The Texas Association of Business. 

While working at Tracor, Lester met Paula Bergeron whom he loved greatly for 46 years.  They married in 1980 in Rockdale.  Upon retirement, Lester and Paula returned to his hometown of Lampasas.  He was a member of the Lampasas Methodist Church.  He enjoyed reconnecting with his Class of '57 friends and especially enjoyed his weekly breakfast gatherings with his life-long buddies.

Lester cared deeply for his family and friends.  He never met a stranger and always had a warm smile and genuine laugh for everyone.  He will be greatly missed.

Lester was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his siblings, Benny, Bobby, and Norma.  He is survived by his wife, Paula (Bergeron) Formby of Lampasas; son DeWayne Formby of Houston; daughter, DeAnne Formby Hart of Leander; granddaughter, Katelyn Ivy Franklin; great-grandchildren, Porter and Parker Robles and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lampasas Methodist Church.