Richard Gill
Friend and Admirer

I met Wah Bong in the twilight of his life.  I would go with Sean to visit him.  My job was to entertain him and make him laugh.  I most failed in these endeavors.  I used my best material, but Wah Bong never laughed, and told me to keep my day job.

However, during these visits, I got to know him, and we had wonderful conversations.  He was eminently proud of the fact that he was born in the United States and an American citizen.  He was really proud of his service to the United States during World War II.  He was a radio operation, and he was stationed in Europe.

After the war, he and Mrs. Lee owned and operated a laundry in Southeast D.C.  He was quite impressed with his two sons, Steve and Sean, and the fine men they turned out to be.  He employed them when they were very young to work in the laundry.  He stated that this taught them the importance of hard work and the value of the dollar.

For everyone that knew Wah Bong, he was quite frugal.  He boasted that no one got the best of him on a bargain, especially when it was free.  He was always able to wrangle extra food from the support staff, and they gave it to him because he was so charming.

I could go on and on, but I grew to love and respect Wah Bong.   He was able to succeed and was most proud of his family.  While Wah Bong is gone from us on earth, he is reunited with his loving wife and parents in the hereafter.  I can hear him now saying I hope Steve  and Sean do not spend too much on my funeral and the banquet thereafter.  While he is not with us now, he will never be forgotten.

Steve and Sean, 

I've always had good memories of your parents and thanks for sharing the photos. Looks like he had an amazing life and plenty to be proud of. May he rest in peace. My sincere  condolences.

 Steve and Sean, sending our prayers and condolences to you both and your families during this difficult time of loss. I’ll always remember your dad as a guiding light of the family whenever I visited your home as a teenager on Chesapeake Street.

Sean and Steve, I was shocked to learn of the passing of your dad.  A small group of us gathered for lunch on 8/5 and we had just spoken fondly of him.  May he now rest easy in peace.  Sending you sincere condolences.  

Dear Lee descendants,
    Wah had share with me when our dad, Mon Fatt Lee / Thuy Hen passed away.  He was so upset and could not attend.  He did share by giving us a picture of our dad very soon after dad arrived in America.   This meant Wah Bong Lee / Fatt Mon Lee were probably 14  - 15 years old.   Theresa and I have fond memories being with your family members. 
Sorry for your loss.   Signed, Fred and Theresa Lee.  JoAnne Wong.  David and Christine Lee.  Donald Lee.  Jack ad Ruby Lee.  Robert and Sally Lee.   Mrs. Mary Lee, wife of Fatt Mon Lee. 

My prayers and condolences to Mr Wah Bong Lee.  RIP. ❤️

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Wah B. Lee

30 January, 1925 – 6 August, 2023

Joseph Gawler’s Sons, LLC

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