Services for Russell "Rusty" Lee, 89, of Kilgore will be at two p.m., Monday, March 15, 2010 at the Rader Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Jonathan Latham officiating. Burial will follow in the Hickory Grove Cemetery. Mr. Lee passed away in Longview on Thursday, March 11, 2010, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
He was born on November 16, 1920,to Clarence and Gertrude Lee of Kilgore. Russell was the sixth of nine children. He was employed with the maintenance department of Kilgore Jr. College at its inception in 1937 and was instrumental in helping Gussie Nell Davis establish the world famous Kilgore College Rangerette Drill Team. He built almost all of the props used by the Rangerettes in the early years. He was a lover of music and played the fiddle, bass fiddle, guitar and piano on local radio programs.
Russell served with th U.S. Army during World War II. A substantial portion of that time was spent island hopping in the Philippines while carrying a Browning Automatic Rifle, which he used to cut down the tops of palm trees which hid enemy snipers. Like many WWII Veterans, he seldom would talk about this period of time. He was preparing for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. From the island of Leyte, he went directly to Japan as part of the original U.S. occupation force - with the 25th Division (Lightning Division), of the 27th Infantry. He received numerous unit citations and medals. In 1946, after his discharge from the military, he returned to Kilgore and resumed employment with the college.
Russell was employed by Kilgore Jr. College for 47 years. Many of those years were spent as head of administrative maintenance. In addition, he taught a course of horticulture, primarily in the establishment and maintenance of the school's trees and shrubbery. He planted almost all of the now old trees at Kilgore College, most of which were transplanted as young saplings from the surrounding Kilgore area. In his honor, the college bestowed a bronze plaque naming a walk-way/mall in his name. Some of Russell's best times were spent bird hunting and fishing.
He is surved by two daughters; Glenna Moser and her husband, Tracy of Kilgore, Debbie Basham of Las Vegas, Nevada; a son, Ronnie Lee and his wife Lear of Kilgore; two sisters, Rose Cole of Kilgore, LaVerne Watson and her husband, Erskine of Kilgore; 9 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildre; 6 great-great grandchildren; numerous nephew and nieces.
The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home Sunday afternoon between two and four p.m.
Obituary provided by: Rader Funeral Home, 401 N. Martin, Kilgore,TX 75662
He was born on November 16, 1920,to Clarence and Gertrude Lee of Kilgore. Russell was the sixth of nine children. He was employed with the maintenance department of Kilgore Jr. College at its inception in 1937 and was instrumental in helping Gussie Nell Davis establish the world famous Kilgore College Rangerette Drill Team. He built almost all of the props used by the Rangerettes in the early years. He was a lover of music and played the fiddle, bass fiddle, guitar and piano on local radio programs.
Russell served with th U.S. Army during World War II. A substantial portion of that time was spent island hopping in the Philippines while carrying a Browning Automatic Rifle, which he used to cut down the tops of palm trees which hid enemy snipers. Like many WWII Veterans, he seldom would talk about this period of time. He was preparing for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. From the island of Leyte, he went directly to Japan as part of the original U.S. occupation force - with the 25th Division (Lightning Division), of the 27th Infantry. He received numerous unit citations and medals. In 1946, after his discharge from the military, he returned to Kilgore and resumed employment with the college.
Russell was employed by Kilgore Jr. College for 47 years. Many of those years were spent as head of administrative maintenance. In addition, he taught a course of horticulture, primarily in the establishment and maintenance of the school's trees and shrubbery. He planted almost all of the now old trees at Kilgore College, most of which were transplanted as young saplings from the surrounding Kilgore area. In his honor, the college bestowed a bronze plaque naming a walk-way/mall in his name. Some of Russell's best times were spent bird hunting and fishing.
He is surved by two daughters; Glenna Moser and her husband, Tracy of Kilgore, Debbie Basham of Las Vegas, Nevada; a son, Ronnie Lee and his wife Lear of Kilgore; two sisters, Rose Cole of Kilgore, LaVerne Watson and her husband, Erskine of Kilgore; 9 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildre; 6 great-great grandchildren; numerous nephew and nieces.
The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home Sunday afternoon between two and four p.m.
Obituary provided by: Rader Funeral Home, 401 N. Martin, Kilgore,TX 75662
Services for Russell "Rusty" Lee, 89, of Kilgore will be at two p.m., Monday, March 15, 2010 at the Rader Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Jonathan Latham officiating. Burial will follow in the Hickory Grove Cemetery. Mr. Lee passed away in Longview on Thursday, March 11, 2010, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
He was born on November 16, 1920,to Clarence and Gertrude Lee of Kilgore. Russell was the sixth of nine children. He was employed with the maintenance department of Kilgore Jr. College at its inception in 1937 and was instrumental in helping Gussie Nell Davis establish the world famous Kilgore College Rangerette Drill Team. He built almost all of the props used by the Rangerettes in the early years. He was a lover of music and played the fiddle, bass fiddle, guitar and piano on local radio programs.
Russell served with th U.S. Army during World War II. A substantial portion of that time was spent island hopping in the Philippines while carrying a Browning Automatic Rifle, which he used to cut down the tops of palm trees which hid enemy snipers. Like many WWII Veterans, he seldom would talk about this period of time. He was preparing for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. From the island of Leyte, he went directly to Japan as part of the original U.S. occupation force - with the 25th Division (Lightning Division), of the 27th Infantry. He received numerous unit citations and medals. In 1946, after his discharge from the military, he returned to Kilgore and resumed employment with the college.
Russell was employed by Kilgore Jr. College for 47 years. Many of those years were spent as head of administrative maintenance. In addition, he taught a course of horticulture, primarily in the establishment and maintenance of the school's trees and shrubbery. He planted almost all of the now old trees at Kilgore College, most of which were transplanted as young saplings from the surrounding Kilgore area. In his honor, the college bestowed a bronze plaque naming a walk-way/mall in his name. Some of Russell's best times were spent bird hunting and fishing.
He is surved by two daughters; Glenna Moser and her husband, Tracy of Kilgore, Debbie Basham of Las Vegas, Nevada; a son, Ronnie Lee and his wife Lear of Kilgore; two sisters, Rose Cole of Kilgore, LaVerne Watson and her husband, Erskine of Kilgore; 9 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildre; 6 great-great grandchildren; numerous nephew and nieces.
The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home Sunday afternoon between two and four p.m.
Obituary provided by: Rader Funeral Home, 401 N. Martin, Kilgore,TX 75662
He was born on November 16, 1920,to Clarence and Gertrude Lee of Kilgore. Russell was the sixth of nine children. He was employed with the maintenance department of Kilgore Jr. College at its inception in 1937 and was instrumental in helping Gussie Nell Davis establish the world famous Kilgore College Rangerette Drill Team. He built almost all of the props used by the Rangerettes in the early years. He was a lover of music and played the fiddle, bass fiddle, guitar and piano on local radio programs.
Russell served with th U.S. Army during World War II. A substantial portion of that time was spent island hopping in the Philippines while carrying a Browning Automatic Rifle, which he used to cut down the tops of palm trees which hid enemy snipers. Like many WWII Veterans, he seldom would talk about this period of time. He was preparing for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. From the island of Leyte, he went directly to Japan as part of the original U.S. occupation force - with the 25th Division (Lightning Division), of the 27th Infantry. He received numerous unit citations and medals. In 1946, after his discharge from the military, he returned to Kilgore and resumed employment with the college.
Russell was employed by Kilgore Jr. College for 47 years. Many of those years were spent as head of administrative maintenance. In addition, he taught a course of horticulture, primarily in the establishment and maintenance of the school's trees and shrubbery. He planted almost all of the now old trees at Kilgore College, most of which were transplanted as young saplings from the surrounding Kilgore area. In his honor, the college bestowed a bronze plaque naming a walk-way/mall in his name. Some of Russell's best times were spent bird hunting and fishing.
He is surved by two daughters; Glenna Moser and her husband, Tracy of Kilgore, Debbie Basham of Las Vegas, Nevada; a son, Ronnie Lee and his wife Lear of Kilgore; two sisters, Rose Cole of Kilgore, LaVerne Watson and her husband, Erskine of Kilgore; 9 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildre; 6 great-great grandchildren; numerous nephew and nieces.
The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home Sunday afternoon between two and four p.m.
Obituary provided by: Rader Funeral Home, 401 N. Martin, Kilgore,TX 75662
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