Richard Donald Jester, Sr.

Richard Donald Jester, Sr., age 86, of Steubenville, OH, passed away peacefully in Kennedy Township, PA at the home of his son on Friday, January 9, 2026.  He was born in Carnegie, PA on November 14, 1939, to the late Florence (McKelvey) and Thomas Story Jester. RD, as his friends and family called him, was the eleventh of their 12 children. 

After graduating from Scott Township High School, he served in the U.S. Army then after discharge worked as a railroad engineer until his retirement from Conrail.

RD is survived by his children Richard D. Jester, Jr. (Tracey) and Kimberly Jester; one sister, Cora Jean Hoover; grandchildren Danika Dhanse (Michael), Devin Jester (Jennifer), Dacia Teresi (Jacob), and Damara Jester; and 14 great-grandchildren, Gianna, Orlando, and Elias Pilardi, Xavier and Kataleya Dhanse, Vaelen, Maclane, Aurelia, Everett, Enoch, and Palmer Teresi, August and Cora Jester and Henry Jester. Also surviving are RD’s former stepchildren Daniel Liwosz and Pamela Distefano (Joseph). In addition to his parents RD was preceded in death by his siblings Jane, Thomas, Emma Mae, Robert, Florence, George, Hazel, Raymond, John, and Anna Belle, his former wife Bernice Liwosz Jester, and former stepson, Thomas Liwosz.

Private funeral arrangements are being handled by the Anthony M. Musmanno Funeral Home, Inc. 941 McCoy Road, McKees Rocks, PA 15136.

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