Lester J. Devens

Les Devens, beloved father, stepfather, grandfather and loving husband of Barbara J. (Haupt) Devens, took wing on Sunday, June 8th after a long battle with the ravages of old age, weathering  infirmities such as joint replacements, shortness of breath, the Obama Administration and genuine exhaustion from wanting to do so many things and not being able to do them anymore.

Once he retired, Les purchased property in Charlotte Court House,Virginia and built the remarkable log “Cabin in the Woods” near Green Rock Hills.  He farmed the red-heart cedar from his own trees with a portable sawmill for its entire interior; hand-picked and transported the rock for the two-story fireplace from his son’s creek bed in NJ, and created a koi pond near his beloved bird feeders/infernal squirrel feeders at the dining room window, and kept zinnias and dinner-plate dahlias growing in front of his tool shed.  The figs grown on the south side of the house were a source of great pleasure for the family and local fauna.

Les’ life’s work included owning a butcher shop, owning a house painting business, and managing the district-wide meat department for a local chain.  He loved building homes with creativity and ingenuity and left some handiwork behind at the homes of all of his eight children and 12 grandchildren. He was an accomplished cabinet maker who also created beautiful hope chests, book shelves, and other handcrafted pieces for family. He loved the physical parts of labor and wore out joints and muscles with sheer will.  As a cook in the Army during WW2, he developed a chef’s persona, frequently putting on feasts for civic organizations as well as for the family, especially during the holidays.  He was a masterful poker player, having won a small fortune several years ago which, as we calculated, allowed him to break even over the years.  He adored the ponies at the track and spent his last evening with daughters and sons-in-law watching the Belmont Stakes and having a spectacular homecooked meal after many weeks of enduring institutional food.  Moreover, he loved to fly the Cessna 176 he co-owned, and a J-3 he rented at a nearby field during his years in Green Township, NJ.  His children, grandchildren and their friends all have stories about their experiences with him flying over the Delaware Water Gap; many of his passengers had memorable experiences; some are still not quite over it.

And he never failed to let an audience go by, telling the most unexpected and surprising stories with hilarious punch lines in the best Americanized Irish brogue during frequent family gatherings.  For those who knew him well, I’m sure you are still laughing at the punch line involving the wife who “wouldn’t eat the mushrooms.”  No one could tell a story quite like Les.

Les Devens came from Welsh coal mining people and managed, in his 89 years, to overcome poverty and hardship to such a degree that those who knew and loved him best remember him for his wherewithal and practical genius; and for some of his not-so-great endeavors such as his homemade sarsaparilla, grannie’s lye soap, overall treatment of restaurant employees, and his general automobile “repair.”  Les Devens was a tough soldier, representative of men of his generation, dedicated, smart, self-made and endearing.  He was loved, respected, and will be missed especially when the sky is cloudless and blue, graced with a small-engine plane in the distance.

Lester J. Devens is survived by his wife of 51 years, Barbara; eight children, 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and was preceded in death by his son, Lester J. Jr.