Nestor V. Peles, 89, of Glen Campbell, died Sunday, March 19, 2017, at AristaCare at Hillsdale Park in Hillsdale.
The son of Joseph Odary and Helen Rose (Revak) Peles, he was born on March 15, 1928, in Glen Campbell.
Nestor attended Rock Run Elementary and graduated from Montgomery Township High School. In his younger years, he sparred in amateur boxing matches.
Nestor loved auto racing. One of the highlights of his career as a driver was participating in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series from 1978 to 1981. He was proud to be a part of a successful team effort working with his son, Steve, in winning many races and championships from 1978 to 1994. He derived great pleasure from working on the mechanics of race cars. Locally, he liked following dirt track racing.
Outdoors, he could be found driving his tractor. Nestor was especially fond of brush-hogging. One of his favorite hobbies was restoring antique radios. He greatly enjoyed country music, polka and faithfully watching RFD-TV and Mollie B.
Nestor was a member of the Ss. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Punxsutawney.
He had served as deputy sheriff of Glen Campbell and was a member of the Glen Campbell Fire Company.
All of Nestor’s working career was dedicated to companies affiliated with surface and deep coal mining operations primarily based in the Glen Campbell area.
Nestor married his wife, Florence “Floie” M. (Lokey) Peles, on July 16, 1949. They shared almost 66 years together until her death on Feb. 3, 2015.
He is survived by his three children, Deborah Rend and husband Nicholas of Indiana, Linda Kohut and husband George of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and Steve Peles and wife Beth of Glen Campbell; nine grandchildren, Jennifer Rauss, Nicholas M. Rend, Mark
Rend and wife Lisa, Matthew Rend, Lisa Griesbach and husband Joe, Michael Kohut, Stacie Peles, Stephanie Peles and Brittany Borlie and husband Joey; eight great-grandchildren, Lillian Rauss, Mitchell, Max and Madison Rend, Ryan Griesbach, Kameron and Millie Kohut and Lynnlee Borlie; and a brother, Joseph J. Peles of Indiana.
Nestor was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and three sisters, Lillian Katchmer, Elaine McMullen and Patricia “Honey” Buterbaugh.
Family and friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, 2017, at the Rairigh Funeral Home, Ltd. in Hillsdale, where an 11 a.m. funeral service will be held on Friday, March 24, 2017, with Father William Lascelles as the officiant.
Interment will follow at the Peles Cemetery in Glen Campbell.
