Broussard, La. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday, January 7, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Broussard, La. for Lester John Viator, Sr., 88. Mr. Viator, a native of Youngsville, La. and long-time resident of Broussard, passed away at 2:20 P.M. Friday, December 21, 2012 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, La. Father Bill Ruskoski will conduct the services with entombment following in the Sacred Heart Mausoleum adjacent to the church.
Survivors include his children: Lester J. Viator, Jr. of Lafayette, La.; Bobby A. Viator of Arnaudville, La.; Robert D. Viator and wife Debbie and Margaret Guilbeau-all of Broussard. Nine grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren will carry on his legacy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Seville and Marguerite (Baudoin) Viator; a brother, Valex J. Viator and an infant son, Jessie Joseph Viator.
" He moved to Broussard with his parents as a young child and spent his entire adult life serving Sacred Heart Church and the Broussard Community. He served as an artilleryman in the Army during WWII and worked for Bell Telephone for over thirty years until his retirement in 1983. He formed Broussard's first Cub Scout Troop (455) and served as its first Scoutmaster. He also served as President of the Broussard Volunteer Fire Department, President of the SW Louisiana Riding Club (equestrian), was a Broussard auxiliary policeman and he cooked for the Sacred Heart Fair for over 60 years. One of his proudest achievements was to become a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus at Sacred Heart. He earned Knight of the Month numerous times and Knight of the Year twice. Most people in Broussard will remember him by his regular walking route. For 30 years and right up to his death, he walked his regular 5-mile route through Broussard 6 days a week.
He was truly the patriarch of our family. Always there for every special event, always there when anyone needed him, never expecting or wanting anything in return. He will truly be missed, but never forgotten."