SPRINGDALE — Lester Lee Fletcher,

age 85, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2023 at his residence surrounded by his loved ones. He was born in Jenks, Okla., on December 17, 1937 to the late Lester Fletcher and Hazel (Whitmire) Fletcher.

He found the love of his life as a young man in high school with Pearl Wines and continued this relationship for over 66 years.

Les was an exceptional athlete. He often made the local papers in high school as the star running back on the football team. His younger brother would block as Les routinely scored touchdowns. He was offered a minor league baseball contract by the Yankees and excelled at boxing.

Les moved to Colton, Calif., and took a job as the lead mechanic at Lukey’s Repair Shop. He became the shop foreman in a very short time. While in Colton he was called by the Lord to take a full-time position in the ministry at the Regular Primary Baptist Church in Fullerton Calif. He spent 40 years preaching the word of God at this church and serving the community. While pastoring at the Baptist Church he earned his Bible degree from the Moody Bible Institution.

He was a publisher and mentor to younger ministers. Les enjoyed making people laugh, was a born leader and caring husband, father, grandparent, and great-grandparent and friend. After retiring at Fullerton, he pastored at Christ’s Light House in Hinesville, Ark. He made many friends at this church and continued to minister into his eighties.

Les preached a simple message about the redemption of people through the blood of Christ. His messages were about faith and love. It would be difficult to measure the amount of people he touched throughout his ministry. Many of us remember him leading prayer services in Skid Row in downtown LA to the sick and needy. In addition, he spoke on the radio for many years.

He was preceded in death by his son in-law, Bob Boyd.

Les is survived by his wife, Pearl Fletcher; three children, Julie Boyd, Rick Fletcher both Springdale and Becca Vie and her husband Fred of Vancouver, Wash.; six grandchildren, Andrew Vie and his wife Lori Ann, Joshua Vie and his wife Sara, Sarah Boyd, Matthew Boyd and his wife Chelsea, Amanda Hart and her husband Daniel, and Alex Fletcher and his wife Haelee; three great grandchildren, Zoey Elisabeth Vie, Isabella Pearl Vie and Joseph Edward Vie; brother, Allen Fletcher and his wife Barbara; two sisters, Linda Edger and Charlene Lampert; two half siblings, Brian Fletcher and Martha Muirhead and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2023 at Heritage Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 24, 2023 at the funeral home with Rick Fletcher and Joshua Vie officiating the funeral service. Committal service to follow at Elm Springs Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Rick Fletcher, Andrew Vie, Joshua Vie, Matthew Boyd, Roger Becker and Stephen Corbitt.