A funeral service will be held in Sharon on Tuesday evening for Pastor Lester Kirk Jr. of West Middlesex, formerly of Mansfield, Ohio, who passed away peacefully on Friday morning (9-18-15) at his residence of natural causes. He was 79. He was born December 8, 1935 in Mansfield the son of Lester Kirk Sr., and Margaret Julia Anna Brauchler. He was raised in Mansfield and graduated from Mansfield Senior High School. A veteran, he served with the United States Marine Corp. Lester worked for more than 30 years for Roadway Express as a local city driver and on several occasions he received awards for his accident free driving. A devout Christian and ordained minister, he and Betty Lou served at the Apostolic Christian Church since 1964 which is now known as the Cedar Avenue Bible Church, Sharon. He was also co host on Crossing Paths Television Ministries along with his best friend pastor Donald G. Reed Sr. and Rev. Gene Blakeman. When he wasn't sharing the good news of the gospel, he enjoyed a good round of golf, cheering for the Cleveland Indians, Browns, and the Ohio State Buckeye's. His wife the former Betty Lou Elsie Staninger whom he married February 22, 1958, passed away January 6, 2010. He leaves his four daughters, Lori S. Padden and her husband Ed, Naples FL, Lisa L. O'Keefe and her husband Brian, Estero, FL, Kelly R. Marenchin, Naples,Fl, Hermitage, Leslie A. Evans and her husband Richard, Beloit, Oh; two sons, Kevin J. Kirk, Pulaski, and Kris J. Kirk and his wife, West Middlesex; He will be sadly missed by his grandchildren, Jason M. Rosario, Rachael A. Kirk, Brett A. and Brandon J. Kirk and his wife Nicole, Tyler K. Evans, and a step grandson Myles W. O'Keefe, and two step great grandchildren, Emma and Myles O'Keefe Jr. Memorial Contributions may be made in his memory to Crossing Paths TV Ministry. P.O. BOX 1181 HERMITAGE, PA 16148 Calling hours: 4 to 8 p.m. to time of service Tuesday (9-22-15) in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. 1090 E. State St. Sharon. Services: Funeral service at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday (9-22-15) in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Donald G. Reed Sr. of Crossing Paths ministry officiating. There will also be a funeral service on Wednesday (9-23-15) at 11:00 a.m. in Ontario Christian Fellowship Church, 636 S. Lexington- Springmill Road, Mansfield, Ohio. Internment: Mansfield Memorial Park, Mansfield, Ohio, with full military honors provided by the Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Squad.