Jane L. Boney

Jane Ellen Lester Boney passed away peacefully on February 11, 2024 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, with sisters Anne and Cindy at her bedside. She was preceded in death by her parents Robert J.Lester Sr. and Billie Jane Nichols Lester. She is survived by her five siblings, Robert (Robin) J. Lester Jr. (Ruby) of Midlothian ,Virginia, Anne Lester Heath of Dinwiddie,Virginia, David R. Lester of Buckingham,Virginia, Cindy Lester Goodwyn (Michael) of Powhatan, Virginia, and William N. Lester (Joyce) of Sparta,Tennessee. Jane had 16 nieces and nephews whom she loved  dearly, and claimed the title of “Favorite Aunt”.
 
 She attended Powhatan county public schools until the eighth grade, then attended Huguenot Academy where she graduated in 1968 as salutatorian of her senior class.  She received her BS degree from Radford college in 1972. One of the highlights of her life was playing French horn for the Radford College Highlanders Band and marching with them in the Macy’s Day Parade in New York City.

 After college she moved to the Hampton Roads area where she worked in the travel industry before being hired by the Daily Press Newspaper as a sales person.  She was a savvy salesperson  and won several awards from the paper. She also worked as a Mary Kay salesperson, again winning several sales awards.

 In the late 1980’s she moved to Lake Gaston and worked selling ads for the local yellow pages. In the early 2000’s she moved to Smith Mountain Lake, which felt like home to her, and continued selling ads for their community paper. She also worked in the pet sitting business in Smith Mountain Lake.
 
 She had loyal friends everywhere she lived and even kept up with several friends from high school and college. Her quick wit and sassy attitude will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her.
 
 Jane had many interests, including music and the outdoors. She learned to play French horn and piano in elementary school and taught herself to play guitar while in high school. As an adult she sang with the  Publik Times Williamsburg Chapter of Sweet Adeline’s. Her women’s barber shop group placed first in several competitions, awarding them a trip to Hawaii to compete in an international competition held there.
 
 She was well traveled and enjoyed skiing the slopes in Colorado and Pennsylvania when she accompanied groups as a travel guide. She took groups to New York city more than once and took pride in the fact that she could navigate the city better than most nonresidents. Water skiing on Lake Gaston and riding her jet ski at Smith Mountain Lake brought her much pleasure, as did body surfing the ocean waves as a teenager.
 
 The family would like to thank the staff of Roanoke Memorial Hospital for their excellent care of Jane, especially Dr. Childers and nurse Jamie in the ICU.
 
 The family would also like to thank Missy Lee and Evelena Mullins of Smith Mountain Lake for their loyal friendship and kindness to Jane, especially over the past  year.
 
 Jane loved her cats KC and Mimi. Pet welfare had a special place in her heart. Jane’s wishes for any contributions in honor or memory of her be made to  Freedoms Last Chance, 90 Edgewood Farm Lane, Wirtz, VA. 24184
 
 A Celebration of her life will be announced at a later time.  

Arrangements by Conner-Bowman Funeral Home, 62 VA Market Place Drive, Rocky Mount, VA  24151  540-334-5151