John Wallace Tester, 84, passed away at his home in Walnut Creek on January 4, 2018 of congestive heart failure. John was born on June 2, 1933 to Grady Tester and Ruby Brown Tester in Boone, N.C. John is the husband of the late Lois Arden Boyd Tester, originally of Roanoke Rapids, N.C, and is survived by his daughters, Karen Sue Tester and Karla Tester de Lemos; son-in-law, John de Lemos; and grandchildren, Kelsey de Lemos and Tristan de Lemos.
John graduated in 1951 from Lenoir Senior High School, where he played trumpet in the band. He attended college at North Carolina State University in Raleigh and graduated in 1955 with a degree in pulp and paper technology. He was a member of the ROTC program and was president of the Student Union from 1954-55. John met his future wife Lois while working a summer job in Roanoke Rapids. Lois was a student at the Women’s College in Greensboro and went on to become a teacher. They married on April 3, 1955. John served in the United States Air Force from 1955-1959, fulfilling his ROTC obligation. John also served in the early 1960s with the Florida Air Guard out of Jacksonville.
John spent the majority of his career, from 1959-2002, in the pulp and paper industry, working at Container Corporation of America in Fernandina Beach, Fla. from 1959-1973. Moving his family out to California, he then worked as pulp and paper production manager for Fiberboard and then Louisiana Pacific in Antioch, Calif. and eventually the Newark Group in Santa Clara, Calif.
In retirement, John enjoyed picking up his love for flying airplanes by joining the Diablo Valley Radio Control club in Pittsburg, Calif. He served as the treasurer of the club for a few years and loved building and flying his planes out at their field. He had a lifelong love of aviation and astronomy. He enjoyed reading a great deal and always watched the 49ers. He was a wonderful father and grandfather and a true role model and will be missed daily.
A memorial will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice East Bay, 3470 Buskirk Ave., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, or a nonprofit of your choice.
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Oak Park Hills Chapel