Anne "Peggy" Jester

Anne Z. Jester “Peggy” (nee Ziegler) On March 15, 2023 age 100 of Moorestown, NJ. Peggy graduated as valedictorian of Riverside High School and followed her dream to be a teacher, graduating from Trenton State in 1942. She married the love of her life Willard Franklin Jester in 1942 and they traveled the US living for a few months on bases from Tampa to Seattle while he trained as a pilot in the Army Airforce. When Franklin returned from the war, Anne began her career as a Physical Education and Drivers Education teacher at Riverside High School. She founded the first “behind the wheel” drivers education program in the State of New Jersey, and was later Department head for Willingboro High School Drivers Education where she introduced the first Driver Simulation program in the area. Anne was a mentor to many of her students. As a hockey and basketball coach she led her teams from intramural to interscholastic competition, promoting funding for women’s sports for buses and uniforms. She was co-founder of the Riverside Sports Night where the young women of each class were divided into the Maroon and White teams as freshman and for the four years of high school competed in dance, gymnastics and sports games in a two evening competition. Generations of Riverside women continue to participate and grow their confidence through the now traditional program. Her former students have remarked over the years that she encouraged college education for women and helped many to pursue their dreams. Anne was elected to the Riverside Sports Hall of Fame and served as a member of the board. Anne was an active, faithful member of the Riverside Methodist Church for over twenty years and a Member of the Moorestown First United Methodist church for over sixty-six years. She served on Committees and was a joyful participant with her Adult Fellowship, where she and Frank hosted bridge parties and an annual Ocean City daylong event. Anne believed in Community service and served as a local Republican Committee woman, longtime leader on the Moorestown Zoning Board, and the first woman elected as Chairman of the Burlington-Camden Counties Traffic Safety Committee. Her childhood and family summers were enjoyed in Ocean City, at the beach and boardwalk, fishing and Sunday services with the guest speakers at the Tabernacle. She traveled the US from Florida to Maine, and Alaska to Hawaii. She loved her week’s long travels to international destinations including Okinawa, Tahiti, China, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, and England. Personally she was never idle. She played the organ and piano. She did canning and preserves from the fruit trees and the garden. She loved crafts and knit, crocheted, did leather work, embroidered quilts, stamped tin, and did needlepoint. She was a letter writer and a daily crossword puzzle enthusiast. As Matriarch of the Jester family she was a loving and diligent Mother of Dr. Craig Willard (Valerie) Jester, Dean Herbert (Patti) Jester and Kim Anne (Matthew) Alicknavitch. Grandmother of Wayde, Deron, Holly, Adam, Brad, Darcie, Michael, Gwen and Luke. Great Grandmother of Keeley, Darby, Caroline, Nathan, Jaxson, Brecklyn, Theodore, Harrison, Arabella, Brooks and Carter. Anne Margaret Ziegler Jester lived a hundred years, and relished every moment with Faith, Love and tenacity. Funeral service 10:30 am Friday March 24th, 2023 at the First United Methodist Church of Moorestown, 446 E. Camden Ave. Moorestown, NJ. Visitation 9:30 to 10:30 am at the church. Interment Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson, NJ. In lieu of flowers. Memorial Contributions may be to the Church.