Adelsbach and Julia Benham Adelpbach on August 1, 1929, he was raised by his father and
stepmother, Della Satterberg Adelsbach on a small farm in Kingsburg, CA, until his late teens.
Having had enough of farming, he began a short career in midget racing with the likes of Bill
and Eli Vukovich. lt was during this time that he met his future bride Margaret "Gerry" Hubble.
They wed on February 28,1948. A year later a son was bom and he soon realized that racing
would not support a family.
After a short time of working various jobs, he started his electrical career with Southem Cal
Edison and was transferred to Lancaster. Within the year the draw of air flight landed him in the
employ of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, better known today as NASA. ln his
thirty year career with NASA he worked on various projects such as the X-1, X-15, and the
Space Shuttle program. He worked with many test pilots that became instrumental in the
Nation's space travel. During the end of his career with NASA, he was involved with public
relations for the Space Shuttle landings at Edwards Air Force Base and worked with politicians
and celebrities that came to view the landings.
He loved this nation's history from the Revolutionary War to World War ll, especially the
weaponry of our early history. As a result, he built flintlock and cap lock rifles and started a
small travelling business selling parts and supplies to shooters of these styles of rifles. He loved
to hunt and fish when he could.
Even though he left the farm at a young age, he also loved the land and what it could provide.
He always had a garden and small orchard. He loved spending time tending to the various
crops. So much so that after 30 years with NASA, he retired to Ahwahnee to build his dream log
home and farm an apple orchard with his son for 15 years.
Lee is preceded in death by his parents Clarence and.Julia, stepmother Della as well as his wife
of 57 years Gerry. He is survived by his sister Jerine Schoenwald, son Scott and wife Cass,
daughter Julia Jameson and husband Don, daughter Jeri Lynn Mackay, six grandchildren and
four greatgrandchildren.
Graveside service will be held on June 21 at 10:00am at OakhillCemetery. A Celebration of Life
will be held on June 22 at 11 :00 at the Oakhurst Elks Lodge. ln lieu of flowers please donate to
Elks National Foundation, PO Box 2569, Oakhurst, CA 93644.
His loving and kind heart will be greatly missed.
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