Lester LaMarr Woolard, 74, a resident of 112 Honey Pod Farm Road, Washington, died Monday, April 30, 2012, at Vidant Beaufort Hospital in Washington..

A graveside service with Masonic rites will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Oakdale Cemetery of Washington, officiated by the Rev. Danny Allen.

Mr. Woolard was born in Beaufort County on Jan. 25, 1938, to the late Henry Redden Woolard and Gwendolyn Woolard. He was a graduate of Washington High School and had attended East Carolina College (now East Carolina University). On May 11, 1958, Mr. Woolard married the former Elsie Elizabeth Alligood, who survives. Mr. Woolard was the president and chief executive officer of Homeowners Realty and Insurance Company, having purchased the company in 1971. In January of 1979, he purchased the Beaufort County franchise of Century 21. Mr. Woolard completed courses in real estate and appraisal at East Carolina University, the Realtors Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Realtors National Marketing Institute of Louisville, Ky. He served as the first president of the Washington Board of Realtors and as a director of the board. He served as past president of the Washington Jaycees. Mr. Woolard also served on the staff of the Washington Redevelopment Commission and as a director of Code Enforcement Program for housing in the city of Tarboro. Mr. Woolard was a past master of Orr Lodge No. 104 A.F. & A.M. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Washington.

In addition to his wife Elizabeth, of the home, Mr. Woolard is survived by two sons, Les C. Woolard and wife Alison and Lee L. Woolard and wife Braun, all of Washington, and four grandchildren, Jordan Pike, Will Woolard, Peyton Woolard and Caleb Woolard.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Woolard is preceded in death by a sister, Lois Woolard Braddy and a grandson, Noah McQuigg Pike.

The family will receive friends at the home located at 112 Honey Pod Farm Road, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 304 W. Second St., Washington, NC 27889 or to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Attention: Development Office, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Fla., 33607.

Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Woolard family.