Grandpa was resilient in the face of multiple chapters of hardship in his long life. The early death of his father,  William Owen Wilkie, created the precedent for a life devoted to the care of others.
  Owen died in the midst of the Great Depression, and Lee dropped out of school to work on a sugar beet farm near Brush, Colorado, where he, his Mother Hazel (Ricketts) Wilkie, and sister Ruby remained after the early death of his father. The salary he provided to his mother was helpful, but insufficient to keep the young family afloat. 
  Lee moved to Colorado Springs. Living in a boarding house and working long hours- all money was sent home. After a period, Lee felt his long-term chances were better in the military. He had a birth certificate forged so he could enter the Navy early (as was common place). Asked why he chose the Navy, Lee always said with a giggle: 'They can only march you so far in the Navy!' 
  He served honorably in World War II in the South Pacific. Once being knocked overboard in high seas, and spending 24 hours in the Pacific before being rescued by a passing American ship. 
  He returned to the Springs, found work at Van Briggle pottery where he shaped and glazed pottery, and began an apprentice program to become an electrician. He also met Betty at the VFW. They fell in love and had one and then another son, Danny Ray and Steven. Lee worked very long hours as a journeyman electrician, which was hard for Betty and the boys. 
  Lee continued as an electrician, training a generation of new  electricians in the process. Tough, but fair, Lee had very high standards for all those around him. That spirit lives on in his grand children.
  At turns witty, reflective, sensitive, and sweet - Lee grew into a wonderful grandfather. He was very bright. Bright enough, it turned out, to keep on trying at all the hard stuff...including love.

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Lee H Wilkie

22 February, 1925 – 28 September, 2013

Memorial Gardens Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery

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