Robert Aaron Lee, 87

The Lord has chosen to take another member of the Greatest Generation. Robert Aaron Lee, 87, passed away on Nov. 7, 2013.

Born on Nov. 26, 1925, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, he was raised in a home, where they grew, shot or picked everything they ate. The independent spirit that he acquired as a boy served him well throughout his life. Everyone he met became a lifelong friend, starting when he was a 15-year old-boy in Hartline, Wash.

His Army career began as an infantryman in World War II where he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge (CIB). He also wore the crossed cannons of an artillery officer, later served as a tank commander and he received the combat wings of a paratrooper.

He was a fixed wing and a rotary wing pilot. He was the Company Commander for the first Army outfit to have the “Huey” helicopter. One of his more memorable tasks at 4th Army Headquarters in the early 1960s was to arrange helicopter flights for the original seven astronauts.

As thanks for his service to the astronauts, he was awarded a parachute from a Mercury capsule that Robert promptly turned into awnings and tow ropes. Although most people would encase the parachute, Robert was raised in the Depression era where nothing was wasted.

After his military career ended, he worked for the state of Washington for many years, as well as being a small business owner and for the summer of 1972 a commercial fisherman in Alaska.

He bought a boat, sight unseen in Ketchikan, Alaska, flew there, fixed the boat and went fishing for many months.

All of his Army life was spent with his first wife, Barbara Lee, with whom he had his four children, Robert (Liza), Crickett (Wes), Kathleen (David) and Stuart (Kelly).

He eventually found himself in Pensacola, Fla., where he met and married Dorothy Ruth, a true southern belle.

His remains will be interned beside her in Flomaton, Ala.

Robert married Patricia on June 21, 2000. They met originally in 1962.

After many years in a motorhome traveling as far as the road would take them, they settled in Las Vegas where Patricia’s youngest son Karl (Lisa) lives.

Patricia’s other three children, Jacquie (Sam), Terri (Gene) and Tomi (Marvin) are all a large part of the extended family that knew and loved Robert.

He made friends wherever he went and he will be sorely missed by all.