douglee25
Well-Known Member
I wanted to share something special with you all because certain individuals in your life can have such a lasting impression. For me, one special person was my Pop. Back in March 2009, my Pop (Grandpop) passed away due to a long illness with COPD. I remember as a kid him telling me stories of how he began smoking at age 13 or so. He used to roll his own smokes with no filter back in the day. It's amazing what they didn't know back then about smoking. My Pop and I were very close. I spent a lot of time with him growing up as a kid and even on until he passed away. Todd's story of his father reminded me of my Pop because I too told him I would get him on the boat before he passed. Unfortunately, that never happened.
My Pop started his own business called 'Walter E. Lee Inc.' over 40 years ago in his basement. He was a manufacturer of plaques, firemarks, and other presentation/award pieces for police, military, Navy Seals, etc. Several expansions occurred over the years which ultimately kept my father and my grandfather in business for such a long time (my father worked there all his life even through his college schooling).
I knew a lot about my Pop, but after his death I realized there were so much more about him that I never knew. One of the things that always intrigued me as a kid was the fact that he lived in Arizona and he was a cowboy. Yes, really, he was a cowboy. I didn't believe him until he showed me his saddle and the lasso with blood on it still from roping steer. Eventually he made his way up to Philadelphia before he had kids. He was also a Scoutmaster for a long time. He always told me the story (I was about 10 years old) how he stood up in front of a entire assembly of a few hundred kids and told them to repeat after him. He would raise his arms up and say 'Ohwha..... Tana..... Ssiam....' He would put a long pause between a each part of the phrase. Everyone was puzzled as to what the hell he was saying, he told me. I asked my Pop what it meant. He replied, you'll figure it out one day. I finally did about 5 years later. When you spell it out, it said 'Oh What An Ass I Am'. :smt043
Here is a small excerpt from his obituary which you may find interesting. I couldn't believe he was involved with so many things!
"While Walt's family was his never ending source of pride, his business was his life. Walt was the president and founder of Walter E. Lee Inc. for over 40 years, starting the business as a hobby in his basement and soon outgrowing it for larger quarters. With several moves for the business over the years, the last was to Ivyland PA. Walt manufactured plaques and custom presentation pieces for fire service, police, military, service organizations and schools, just to name a few. It has been noted that Walt was recognized as one to have created more than 100 original Firemarks. In addition, he was proud when he was asked by the U.S. State Department to send a presentation plaque to every U.S. Embassy around the world.
Walt was involved in many organizations. He held various positions in the Somerton United Methodist Church from Trustee, Treasurer of the Methodist Men, Sunday School (31 years), and Church Treasurer (26 years). He was a former Scoutmaster of Somerton Troop #242 and led the Philadelphia contingent troop to the National Jamboree in Santa Anna, CA in 1953. Walt was a mason in the Harry A. Houseman Lodge #717 F&AM, and the Southampton Square Club. He was a member of the German-American Firefighters Association, St. Johns #28 Assembly of Artisans, Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Second Marine Division Association, Lions Club of Somerton, Southeastern Pennsylvania Navy League of the United States, Union Historical Fire Society, and the National Trust for Historical Preservation."
The reason why I'm posting this now vs. earlier is because I just received my last piece of closure this morning. My father has a very artistic side to him in addition to his engineering/mechanical side. He designed this head stone on his computer and fabricated it out of bronze. I was just totally taken back when I opened this up this morning. For me it means so much.
It shows my Pop's Western side, his Scoutmaster side, his company logo, the Masonic, and his Patriotic side.
In addition to my Pop's memorabilia, my father also included my Grandmom's history as well. My Grandmom is still alive and doing well. Her side shows her Nursing side, her Church side, and he Singing/vocal side as well.
In the center, the Patriotic and Faith side unite to form The Lee Family.
My Pop was a special man. He will never be forgotten.
Doug
My Pop started his own business called 'Walter E. Lee Inc.' over 40 years ago in his basement. He was a manufacturer of plaques, firemarks, and other presentation/award pieces for police, military, Navy Seals, etc. Several expansions occurred over the years which ultimately kept my father and my grandfather in business for such a long time (my father worked there all his life even through his college schooling).
I knew a lot about my Pop, but after his death I realized there were so much more about him that I never knew. One of the things that always intrigued me as a kid was the fact that he lived in Arizona and he was a cowboy. Yes, really, he was a cowboy. I didn't believe him until he showed me his saddle and the lasso with blood on it still from roping steer. Eventually he made his way up to Philadelphia before he had kids. He was also a Scoutmaster for a long time. He always told me the story (I was about 10 years old) how he stood up in front of a entire assembly of a few hundred kids and told them to repeat after him. He would raise his arms up and say 'Ohwha..... Tana..... Ssiam....' He would put a long pause between a each part of the phrase. Everyone was puzzled as to what the hell he was saying, he told me. I asked my Pop what it meant. He replied, you'll figure it out one day. I finally did about 5 years later. When you spell it out, it said 'Oh What An Ass I Am'. :smt043
Here is a small excerpt from his obituary which you may find interesting. I couldn't believe he was involved with so many things!
"While Walt's family was his never ending source of pride, his business was his life. Walt was the president and founder of Walter E. Lee Inc. for over 40 years, starting the business as a hobby in his basement and soon outgrowing it for larger quarters. With several moves for the business over the years, the last was to Ivyland PA. Walt manufactured plaques and custom presentation pieces for fire service, police, military, service organizations and schools, just to name a few. It has been noted that Walt was recognized as one to have created more than 100 original Firemarks. In addition, he was proud when he was asked by the U.S. State Department to send a presentation plaque to every U.S. Embassy around the world.
Walt was involved in many organizations. He held various positions in the Somerton United Methodist Church from Trustee, Treasurer of the Methodist Men, Sunday School (31 years), and Church Treasurer (26 years). He was a former Scoutmaster of Somerton Troop #242 and led the Philadelphia contingent troop to the National Jamboree in Santa Anna, CA in 1953. Walt was a mason in the Harry A. Houseman Lodge #717 F&AM, and the Southampton Square Club. He was a member of the German-American Firefighters Association, St. Johns #28 Assembly of Artisans, Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Second Marine Division Association, Lions Club of Somerton, Southeastern Pennsylvania Navy League of the United States, Union Historical Fire Society, and the National Trust for Historical Preservation."
The reason why I'm posting this now vs. earlier is because I just received my last piece of closure this morning. My father has a very artistic side to him in addition to his engineering/mechanical side. He designed this head stone on his computer and fabricated it out of bronze. I was just totally taken back when I opened this up this morning. For me it means so much.
It shows my Pop's Western side, his Scoutmaster side, his company logo, the Masonic, and his Patriotic side.
In addition to my Pop's memorabilia, my father also included my Grandmom's history as well. My Grandmom is still alive and doing well. Her side shows her Nursing side, her Church side, and he Singing/vocal side as well.
In the center, the Patriotic and Faith side unite to form The Lee Family.
My Pop was a special man. He will never be forgotten.
Doug
