John E. Kester, Jr., 71, of Bridgeport, passed away Monday evening, August 17, 2026, in the United Hospital Center. He was born in Village of Northport, Michigan, on September 3, 1954, a son of the late John E. Kester and Isabelle Angeline (Clarke) Kester.
He is survived by his son, John E. Kester, III, and his fiancée Lauren Hawkins of Fairmont; his daughter, Chloe Kester and her fiancé Alexander Volkmer, Bridgeport; his grandson, Will Hawkins; his stepdaughter Hillary Martinez and husband Bruno of Stonewood; step-grandchildren, Mya, Isabella, and William Martinez; a sister Karla Echols and her husband Nobel of Shinnston; his half-sister, Tammy Farrow of TN; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Patricia Kester Fraking; and his half-brother, Ben Moore.
John served in the United States Marine Corp for November 1971 – August 1975. He was a coal miner for Consol Energy/Murray Energy for over 39 years, retiring in 2016.
He loved to trout fish and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He was a 35-year member of the Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club. He really enjoyed spending time trout fishing at his son John’s camp in Alpine Shores, Bowden, WV. He was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and WVU football.
Friends will be received at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport, on Sunday, August 23, 2026 from 2 – 6 p.m., where services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, August 24, 2026. Interment will follow in West Virginia National Cemetery where Military Funeral Honors will be accorded by the Marion County Honor Guard.
John Kester