Robert Edward 'Robert E. Lee' Lee

Robert E. "Bob" Lee, 82, died Feb. 1, 2014. Born June 22, 1931, in Buffalo, Oklahoma (105 degrees that day) to S. Edward and Estella Mae (Brownrigg) Lee. His mother died on Valentine's Day 1941; his dad died 41 years later. Bob grew up working at his dad's weekly newspaper, Harper County Journal, in Buffalo. He graduated from Buffalo High School in 1949 and earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1953. He and June Dunshee were married Thanksgiving Day 1952. June died Thanksgiving Day 2006. Bob and June met at a Christian church youth rally, soon fell in love, married and spent 54 years together raising a wonderful family and working together in Bob's career, in their church, in civic clubs and in love. Bob was news editor of the Woodward County Journal nine years, managing editor of the Enid Morning News and Enid Daily Eagle nine years and editor-columnist at The Daily Oklahoman for 23 years, retiring in 1999. His personal column was widely read. More than 2,600 of Bob's columns were published from 1982 to 1999. He served two years as a U.S. Air Force officer, primarily at MacDill AFB in Florida and in French Morocco, North Africa. He was discharged as a captain. Bob was a Lions Club member from age 18 until his death, serving in leadership roles in Oklahoma and speaking in 17 states and Canada. He was also a member of OKC's Mayfair Kiwanis Club, Woodward's Carnegie library board (president), Enid's Community Speech & Hearing Clinic (president), UPI Managing Editors of Oklahoma (president) and Enid's Central Christian Church (chairman of the board). Bob and Leora B. "Lee" Holland became life partners in April 2008. They worked together in church, Lions Club and the Hot Shot investment club. They traveled frequently. Bob lived at Epworth Villa retirement community. He is survived by his children Dan Lee and wife Kay of Oklahoma City; John Lee and wife Teresa of Shawnee, KS; Zoe Ann Francis and husband Rick of Pleasanton, CA; grandkids Matthew Lee and wife Jessica, Adam Lee, Keagan Lee, Casey Lee, Hannah Francis and Emilie Francis; and Lee Holland. Memorial service will be Saturday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. at New Covenant Christian Church, 12000 N. Rockwell, with the Rev. Tim Pool officiating. Private entombment at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to New Covenant Christian Church, 12000 N. Rockwell, OKC 73162.