Delma D. Lee, the eighth and last child of Albert Sidney and Ruby Ethel (Spilman) Lee was born March 10, 1931 in King George County, VA. Among his siblings, Delma had two sisters, with one being the twin of his eldest brother and the other being his own twin. He passed away on December 4, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE at the age of 88.
He grew up on a small farmstead approximately 18 miles east of Fredericksburg, VA, with life being typical of the depression era of the 1930’s.
Delma enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in May 1950. After basic training, he was assigned to Travis Air Force Base, California for four years as a Military Policeman. During this time, along with routine police duties, Delma was selected to conduct several train trips across the country to return AWOL prisoners to Travis AFB. During the Korean Conflict, he was assigned two highly classified security details for several months in Okinawa in 1951 and Guam in 1952. For the following years (1954 – 1962), he was assigned to The 1254th Air Transport group at Washington National Airport. He held the highest security clearance with a White House ID card to act as a courier for classified documents between the USAF Transport Group at Washington National Airport and the White House. During these 8 years, he flew on many special VIP missions worldwide, culminating in being selected to be a member of the elite security team assigned to the Presidential aircraft. In this capacity, he flew on many trips with both Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. Delma left the Air Force in 1962 and later served 9 years in the Kansas Army National Guard to complete his military career.
On May 19, 1957, Delma married Beth L. Whitney of Almena, KS who was employed by American Airlines at Washington National Airport. To this union came 2 children; Tracy Lynne and Arthur Lloyd, who were both born at DeWitt Army Hospital in Fort Belvoir, VA.
The family moved to Norton County, KS in 1962 to assist his parents-in-law in their newly established eleven department retail business in Norton, known as the Coast-to-Coast Store. He worked there until the store was sold in 1968. He then worked in construction in the Norton area, completed a 5 year special security assignment in Pasadena, CA and 12 years of sales in Dodge City, KS. After retiring in 1995, Delma enjoyed restoring their retirement home in Norton and collecting, buying, selling and restoring antiques.
Delma has served in several capacities among which were President of the Almena Chamber of Commerce, Fire Chief of the Almena Fire Department and a member of the Norton County Hospital Board of Directors.
He was raised in the Montague Baptist Church in King George County, VA and concluded his life as a member of the Sabbath-keeping Church of God.
Delma was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Tracy Schemper; his siblings: twins Ethel and Wilson; Thornton (who died as a baby); Harry (who died in a B-17 bomber over Berlin, Germany in 1944); Lawrence, Albert, and his twin Eva.
He grew up on a small farmstead approximately 18 miles east of Fredericksburg, VA, with life being typical of the depression era of the 1930’s.
Delma enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in May 1950. After basic training, he was assigned to Travis Air Force Base, California for four years as a Military Policeman. During this time, along with routine police duties, Delma was selected to conduct several train trips across the country to return AWOL prisoners to Travis AFB. During the Korean Conflict, he was assigned two highly classified security details for several months in Okinawa in 1951 and Guam in 1952. For the following years (1954 – 1962), he was assigned to The 1254th Air Transport group at Washington National Airport. He held the highest security clearance with a White House ID card to act as a courier for classified documents between the USAF Transport Group at Washington National Airport and the White House. During these 8 years, he flew on many special VIP missions worldwide, culminating in being selected to be a member of the elite security team assigned to the Presidential aircraft. In this capacity, he flew on many trips with both Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. Delma left the Air Force in 1962 and later served 9 years in the Kansas Army National Guard to complete his military career.
On May 19, 1957, Delma married Beth L. Whitney of Almena, KS who was employed by American Airlines at Washington National Airport. To this union came 2 children; Tracy Lynne and Arthur Lloyd, who were both born at DeWitt Army Hospital in Fort Belvoir, VA.
The family moved to Norton County, KS in 1962 to assist his parents-in-law in their newly established eleven department retail business in Norton, known as the Coast-to-Coast Store. He worked there until the store was sold in 1968. He then worked in construction in the Norton area, completed a 5 year special security assignment in Pasadena, CA and 12 years of sales in Dodge City, KS. After retiring in 1995, Delma enjoyed restoring their retirement home in Norton and collecting, buying, selling and restoring antiques.
Delma has served in several capacities among which were President of the Almena Chamber of Commerce, Fire Chief of the Almena Fire Department and a member of the Norton County Hospital Board of Directors.
He was raised in the Montague Baptist Church in King George County, VA and concluded his life as a member of the Sabbath-keeping Church of God.
Delma was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Tracy Schemper; his siblings: twins Ethel and Wilson; Thornton (who died as a baby); Harry (who died in a B-17 bomber over Berlin, Germany in 1944); Lawrence, Albert, and his twin Eva.
Delma D. Lee, the eighth and last child of Albert Sidney and Ruby Ethel (Spilman) Lee was born March 10, 1931 in King George County, VA. Among his siblings, Delma had two sisters, with one being the twin of his eldest brother and the other being his own twin. He passed away on December 4, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE at the age of 88.
He grew up on a small farmstead approximately 18 miles east of Fredericksburg, VA, with life being typical of the depression era of the 1930’s.
Delma enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in May 1950. After basic training, he was assigned to Travis Air Force Base, California for four years as a Military Policeman. During this time, along with routine police duties, Delma was selected to conduct several train trips across the country to return AWOL prisoners to Travis AFB. During the Korean Conflict, he was assigned two highly classified security details for several months in Okinawa in 1951 and Guam in 1952. For the following years (1954 – 1962), he was assigned to The 1254th Air Transport group at Washington National Airport. He held the highest security clearance with a White House ID card to act as a courier for classified documents between the USAF Transport Group at Washington National Airport and the White House. During these 8 years, he flew on many special VIP missions worldwide, culminating in being selected to be a member of the elite security team assigned to the Presidential aircraft. In this capacity, he flew on many trips with both Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. Delma left the Air Force in 1962 and later served 9 years in the Kansas Army National Guard to complete his military career.
On May 19, 1957, Delma married Beth L. Whitney of Almena, KS who was employed by American Airlines at Washington National Airport. To this union came 2 children; Tracy Lynne and Arthur Lloyd, who were both born at DeWitt Army Hospital in Fort Belvoir, VA.
The family moved to Norton County, KS in 1962 to assist his parents-in-law in their newly established eleven department retail business in Norton, known as the Coast-to-Coast Store. He worked there until the store was sold in 1968. He then worked in construction in the Norton area, completed a 5 year special security assignment in Pasadena, CA and 12 years of sales in Dodge City, KS. After retiring in 1995, Delma enjoyed restoring their retirement home in Norton and collecting, buying, selling and restoring antiques.
Delma has served in several capacities among which were President of the Almena Chamber of Commerce, Fire Chief of the Almena Fire Department and a member of the Norton County Hospital Board of Directors.
He was raised in the Montague Baptist Church in King George County, VA and concluded his life as a member of the Sabbath-keeping Church of God.
Delma was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Tracy Schemper; his siblings: twins Ethel and Wilson; Thornton (who died as a baby); Harry (who died in a B-17 bomber over Berlin, Germany in 1944); Lawrence, Albert, and his twin Eva.
He grew up on a small farmstead approximately 18 miles east of Fredericksburg, VA, with life being typical of the depression era of the 1930’s.
Delma enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in May 1950. After basic training, he was assigned to Travis Air Force Base, California for four years as a Military Policeman. During this time, along with routine police duties, Delma was selected to conduct several train trips across the country to return AWOL prisoners to Travis AFB. During the Korean Conflict, he was assigned two highly classified security details for several months in Okinawa in 1951 and Guam in 1952. For the following years (1954 – 1962), he was assigned to The 1254th Air Transport group at Washington National Airport. He held the highest security clearance with a White House ID card to act as a courier for classified documents between the USAF Transport Group at Washington National Airport and the White House. During these 8 years, he flew on many special VIP missions worldwide, culminating in being selected to be a member of the elite security team assigned to the Presidential aircraft. In this capacity, he flew on many trips with both Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. Delma left the Air Force in 1962 and later served 9 years in the Kansas Army National Guard to complete his military career.
On May 19, 1957, Delma married Beth L. Whitney of Almena, KS who was employed by American Airlines at Washington National Airport. To this union came 2 children; Tracy Lynne and Arthur Lloyd, who were both born at DeWitt Army Hospital in Fort Belvoir, VA.
The family moved to Norton County, KS in 1962 to assist his parents-in-law in their newly established eleven department retail business in Norton, known as the Coast-to-Coast Store. He worked there until the store was sold in 1968. He then worked in construction in the Norton area, completed a 5 year special security assignment in Pasadena, CA and 12 years of sales in Dodge City, KS. After retiring in 1995, Delma enjoyed restoring their retirement home in Norton and collecting, buying, selling and restoring antiques.
Delma has served in several capacities among which were President of the Almena Chamber of Commerce, Fire Chief of the Almena Fire Department and a member of the Norton County Hospital Board of Directors.
He was raised in the Montague Baptist Church in King George County, VA and concluded his life as a member of the Sabbath-keeping Church of God.
Delma was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Tracy Schemper; his siblings: twins Ethel and Wilson; Thornton (who died as a baby); Harry (who died in a B-17 bomber over Berlin, Germany in 1944); Lawrence, Albert, and his twin Eva.
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