She was born in Crumpler, West Virginia on August 27, 1926, the daughter of Ashby Lee Crouch and Annie (Young) Crouch. Mary Lee was the third of 15 children: Nita, Mabel, Mary Lee, Bud, Dot, Jim, Frank, Pat, Denny, Bill, Jerry, Minnie, Sandy Joddy, Sherry. Her father was a coal miner and her mother raised the kids. What they lacked in money, they made up for with love. Each child went on to receive post-secondary education. Mary Lee graduated from North Fork High School and went on to receive her BS in Nursing. She continued her education at Ohio State University where she earned her CRNA (Nurse Anesthetist). Her daughter, Ann, remembers, “She was often on call and I vividly remember going to the hospital with her if we were out when she was called in. To say I worshipped her is an understatement. I’m sorry I didn’t follow in her footsteps and study medicine.”
The Wimberly family moved to Fort Myers in 1964 and Mary Lee was the second nurse anesthetist in town. Her first job in Fort Myers was at Lee Memorial Hospital. She and her husband, Wesley, built a home in Tanglewood and she never moved to a different home. She wanted to stay in her home until the end of this life and the family made sure her wishes were respected and granted.
Ann recalls, “I’ve heard so many stories about my mom through the years. Her patients adored her, her co-workers respected and admired her and her brothers and sisters always said she was beautiful: inside and out. She loved to laugh and play tricks on people (good natured).”
Mary Lee had a son from a previous marriage, David, who was married to Joy. She married Lt. Colonel USAF Wesley F. Wimberly, on May 17, 1958 in Bluefield, WV. Together they had a son, Wesley F. Wimberly, who was born on February 7, 1959 in Columbus, Ohio and he is married to Ivy Ting, and then a daughter, Ann Wimberly Booth was born on March 27, 1962 in Fairfax, VA and she is married to Jim Booth.
Mary Lee was blessed by 5 grandchildren; Christen Nicole Wimberly and Eric Wimberly are children of David and Joy Wimberly, Ashlee Nicole Booth and Ainsley Sinclair Booth, children of Ann and Jim Booth. Holly Wimberly is the daughter of Wes and Ivy Wimberly. Needless to say they were her pride and joy.
She was predeceased by her parents Ashby Lee and Annie Crouch; her sisters, Nita and Mabel; brothers, Bud, Frank and Jerry. Her husband, Wesley, passed away on December 18, 1995 due to Multiple Myeloma. She lost her son, David Wimberly and in January of 2018 she was preceded by her granddaughter, Christen Nicole Wimberly.
Mary Lee requested that no local service was to be held and her wishes will be respected. She will be interred next to her husband, Lt. Colonel USAF Wesley F. Wimberly, at Arlington National Cemetery. Ann says, “We consider this to be a great honor as my father served our country as an Air Force pilot for 22 years. A ceremony will be held at Arlington (per protocol) and that date has yet to be determined.”
From the family, “Our family wishes to thank everyone who has reached out to provide words of comfort during this difficult time. There are so many wonderful people who helped us. Griswold Home Health Care and Hope Hospice House are two of the most compassionate and caring organizations and I really cannot imagine what we would have done without them. Shortly before mom passed she said one of her favorite sayings was “I would like to be the kind of friend to others that you have been to me”. Well momma, I think you can Rest in Peace knowing that you touched countless lives with your smile, your kindness and your compassion. We will always love you.”
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