Roxanne L. Kester

The family of Roxina Lulu Kester (née Long) is deeply saddened to announce her passing on July 1, 2026. Roxanne was born on September 22, 1938 in Danville, Pennsylvania. She is preceded in death by her parents, Marceda Long and Lester Long, brother Lester "Bud" Long and sister, Marcia Trump as well as her beloved husband of 58 years, H. Joseph Kester.

Joseph and Roxanne were married August, 8, 1958. Roxanne and Joseph made a life together on the Air Force base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They raised a family in Endwell, New York, moving the family to Germany in the late 1970s. Living in Europe was an exciting experience for Roxanne, and she enthusiastically planned trips all over Europe, including Russia and Israel. She lived a beautiful life filled with family, friends and travel.

Roxanne loved reading, playing games, quilting, gardening, skiing, going on adventures abroad and walking along the beaches of Delaware and South Carolina.

She is remembered lovingly by her family for her kindness, intelligence and her impeccable eye for detail. Her memory will be treasured by her three children and their spouses: Stephen and Lauren Kester, Susan Bugenhagen and James and Tobi Louise Kester, as well as her six grandchildren: Krista (Collin), Matthew, Christopher, Aidan, Briant and Cavan; by her two great-grandchildren: Logan and Freya, as well as many cherished friends.

A celebration of life will be held at 3:30 pm on Saturday, August 8, 2026, Reed & Steinbach Funeral Home, where relatives and friends will be received from 2:30 PM until the time of the service.  The family thanks Karen, Lynn, Betty and Wendy for their compassion and care.

Roxanne valued education and intellectual enrichment. She was an avid reader and Jeopardy fan, and was always amazed at people who wanted to learn more. She was a volunteer leader on a committee to award prizes for excellent high school writers in her Pawleys Island community, and believed that education was something everyone should be able to access. If you would like to honor Roxanne’s memory with a gift, please donate to Beyond Literacy, a Philadelphia-based educational program for adult learners.

Beyond Literacy Donation Link