Elbert Christian Lee, Jr., the first of six children, was born on July 19,1923 in Phillipsburg, KS to Dora Lee (Surby) and Elbert Christian Lee Sr. He moved with his family to Missouri at the age of 12 after the dust storm of 1934 destroyed the family farm. Eventually they moved to Yakima, WA where many family and friends had moved previously.
In 1942 he was drafted into the Army Air Corps where he served for over three years. He graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. In 1951, he was recalled to the Korean war, serving another three years. He then joined the Army Reserve. He retired with the rank of Major in 1973.
In the summer of 1951 he met Doris Charlotte Klaumann whom he met on a blind date. After a brief courtship they married in El Paso, TX. She preceded him in death in April 2001, after nearly 50 years of marriage.
Al, as his friends called him, was employed by Pacific Power and Light where he worked for 36 years. He was a supervisor in the treasury department before retiring in 1983.
His greatest passion was being a commercial, multi-engine airplane pilot and loved flying recreationally.
He served as president of the Lions Club in Sunnyside, WA and Enterprise, OR. In Hermiston and Corvallis OR he served as president of the Kiwanis Club. He was a member of the Uniformed Services, the Association Services, the Association of Research and Enlightenment, the Noorah Foundation, the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and Unity of Beaverton and its predecessor church. He was board chairman of Lents Methodist Church in Portland, and Lay Leader and Licensed Preacher, Sunnyside, WA Methodist Church.
He is survived by daughters Kathryn Lee Bell of Dodge City KS, Linda Lee Quinby of Newberg, OR, Sharon Lee-Lyon of Eugene, OR, and grandchildren Theresa, Erica, Alicia, Andrea and Jack. Two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18