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Lee W. Metcalf
07/12/1922 — 02/04/2003
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Lee W. Metcalf
Lee W. Metcalf, 80, of Richland, passed away Tuesday, February 4, 2003. He was born July 12, 1922 in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.
Lees mother and father U.S. Citizens moved their family from Kamloops, British Columbia to Tacoma, Washington when Lee was a child. He spent his youthful years in Tacoma always looking skyward, dreaming of the day he would fly his plane amongst the clouds.
Lee married Vera M. Chambers June 17, 1942 and was drafted into the Army soon after. He was very proud of the time he served in military and spent many days and nights writing and reading about his experiences in Europe during World War II. He served his country well and was awarded various medals including the Bonze Star.
After the war ended Lee and Vera settled in Tacoma where they gave birth to their loving daughter Carole, in his words a little small but they loved every ounce of her. Lee was hired at Hanford in 1949 as a Security Guard and moved the family to Eastern Washington. He was promoted to Captain and Firearms instructor for the Hanford Patrol and Pistol team. His team of sharpshooters won may competitions throughout the United States and Canada. Lees steady hand earned him a place on the Governors list.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Alice Metcalf; brother Hubert; sister Clara; and grandson Karl Richard Jr.
He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Vera, in his words so loving and beautiful. Many times the two could be found hiking the high plains or fishing the back woods. Their love for life would also be shared with their daughter Carole and husband Karl; Grandson, Norman Lee and wife Janel; brother, Norman Metcalf and wife Mary; great grandchildren Michelle Lee, Dylan and Madison.
Loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, friend and storyteller. He will be missed but always survive in our hearts and memories. We love you Lee, Dad, Gramps, Papa and Pop.
A graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland on Monday, February 10, 2003 at 3:00 PM. Family is asking in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 277, Richland, WA 99352 or to the The American Heart Association , 805 S. Auburn, Kennewick, WA 99336.
You are all in our prayers during this time of great loss. Lee was such a loving cheerful person. Our daughter, Janel, was so blessed to have Lee become her “Grandpa” when she married Norm.
Look to the good Lord for comfort and strength. He will be there in this time of need.
We love you all,
Greg and Carol
Lee and i worked together on hanford patrol for a lot of years. he was a good friend and a buddy, i will miss him.
GOD BLESS HIM
REST IN PEACE
MY FRIEND
Dear Vera,Carole,Karl & family We are deeply sorrowed by your loss. We are unable to be there but know that our hearts & prayers are with you!
Uncle Lee was a very kind and intelligent uncle to me while I was growing up. We were so sorry to hear of his passing. You will all be in our prayers. Love Chris and Alan
Vera and family
I am sorry I missed Lee’s funeral. I was out of town and missed the announcement in the paper. Although I have not seen Lee in some time, I think of him often. He and I, Ralph Marshall, and John Lynch had some great times at the Patrol Training Academy. Lee always had a calm manner and a sense of humor. I was lucky to know and work with him. I will miss him.
Vera and family: This is from all of us at the Patrol Academy and Hanford Patrol and particularly from Marsha and I. We want to extend our sincere sympathy on the loss of Lee. He will be missed by all of us. He was our teacher, mentor and friend. Most of all, Marsha and I probably wouldn’t have got through the Academy without his help. Indeed, he was the best Range Master who ever lived. We will be here for you always. Love, Bruce and Marsha.
Auntie Pete,
We were so very sad to hear about Uncle Lee’s passing on. I have fond childhood memories of our camping trips together at La Wis Wis, clam digging on the ocean, many hours of playing in your backyard gardens and riding your bikes around the Cottonwood neighborhood. Everytime we came to your home we were always greeted with Uncle Lee’s, warm and loving smile. I was so glad that I got to see both of you in September. Please know that all of you are in our thought and prayers today. Love, Mike, Rhonda and kids
WE DIDN’T KNOW LEE,HE IS MY AUNT CAROLES FATHER,BUT AFTER READING HIS MEMORIAL YOU CAN SEE HE WAS A SPECIAL MAN,HUSBAND,FATHER,BROTHER AND SON.WE SEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILY. LOVE BERT AND PAM RUMMEL.
Steve and I would like to offer our sympathies to the family. Also would like to say that it wasw a pleasure knowing Lee these past few years and we will miss him here at the shop.
Wayne
We extend our sincere sympathy to Vera and family. The memorial was very nice; the Honor Guard did a good job.
I hired in on Patrol in 1955 and worked with Lee in 100-K Area in the 60’s. Once Lee and I went hunting together on an early buck hunt above Chelan; we took my 55 International pickup and pulled Lee’s camp trailer, with my horse in the back of the pickup. Lee insisted on walking all the time and wouldn’t trade off riding the horse. He loved to hike. We got to a mountaintop and picked huckleberries, when all of a sudden my horse took off down the mountainside and we had to chase after him. Lee got a big laugh out of that. On another hunt we went to the Grand Ronde River where Lee hunted chukars while I went deer hunting. I got a shot at a deer and missed; another deer ran by and I shot it. Lee helped me carry the deer out and we soon found out I’d also shot the other deer. Lee never forgot about that and every once in awhile, in a subtle way, he’d joke about it. Lee had a great sense of humor and loved to hunt chukars, which involved a lot of hiking. We always managed to get a few.
Living in Idaho I didn’t get to see Lee much after we retired. He never changed when he went to the training academy — always friendly and fun. The last time I talked with him in 1999, he said he loved golfing, hiking and fishing.
We will all miss Lee – he was one-of-a-kind.
Dear Carole, Karl, Vera, Norman & Janel,
I am so sorry for the loss of your loved one. Please know that I am with you in heart and spirit. The obituary was beautifully created. He was a loving man.
You are all in our prayers during this time of great loss. Lee was such a loving cheerful person. Our daughter, Janel, was so blessed to have Lee become her “Grandpa” when she married Norm.
Look to the good Lord for comfort and strength. He will be there in this time of need.
We love you all,
Greg and Carol
Lee and i worked together on hanford patrol for a lot of years. he was a good friend and a buddy, i will miss him.
GOD BLESS HIM
REST IN PEACE
MY FRIEND
Dear Vera,Carole,Karl & family We are deeply sorrowed by your loss. We are unable to be there but know that our hearts & prayers are with you!
Uncle Lee was a very kind and intelligent uncle to me while I was growing up. We were so sorry to hear of his passing. You will all be in our prayers. Love Chris and Alan
Vera and family
I am sorry I missed Lee’s funeral. I was out of town and missed the announcement in the paper. Although I have not seen Lee in some time, I think of him often. He and I, Ralph Marshall, and John Lynch had some great times at the Patrol Training Academy. Lee always had a calm manner and a sense of humor. I was lucky to know and work with him. I will miss him.
Vera and family: This is from all of us at the Patrol Academy and Hanford Patrol and particularly from Marsha and I. We want to extend our sincere sympathy on the loss of Lee. He will be missed by all of us. He was our teacher, mentor and friend. Most of all, Marsha and I probably wouldn’t have got through the Academy without his help. Indeed, he was the best Range Master who ever lived. We will be here for you always. Love, Bruce and Marsha.
Auntie Pete,
We were so very sad to hear about Uncle Lee’s passing on. I have fond childhood memories of our camping trips together at La Wis Wis, clam digging on the ocean, many hours of playing in your backyard gardens and riding your bikes around the Cottonwood neighborhood. Everytime we came to your home we were always greeted with Uncle Lee’s, warm and loving smile. I was so glad that I got to see both of you in September. Please know that all of you are in our thought and prayers today. Love, Mike, Rhonda and kids
WE DIDN’T KNOW LEE,HE IS MY AUNT CAROLES FATHER,BUT AFTER READING HIS MEMORIAL YOU CAN SEE HE WAS A SPECIAL MAN,HUSBAND,FATHER,BROTHER AND SON.WE SEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILY. LOVE BERT AND PAM RUMMEL.
Steve and I would like to offer our sympathies to the family. Also would like to say that it wasw a pleasure knowing Lee these past few years and we will miss him here at the shop.
Wayne
We extend our sincere sympathy to Vera and family. The memorial was very nice; the Honor Guard did a good job.
I hired in on Patrol in 1955 and worked with Lee in 100-K Area in the 60’s. Once Lee and I went hunting together on an early buck hunt above Chelan; we took my 55 International pickup and pulled Lee’s camp trailer, with my horse in the back of the pickup. Lee insisted on walking all the time and wouldn’t trade off riding the horse. He loved to hike. We got to a mountaintop and picked huckleberries, when all of a sudden my horse took off down the mountainside and we had to chase after him. Lee got a big laugh out of that. On another hunt we went to the Grand Ronde River where Lee hunted chukars while I went deer hunting. I got a shot at a deer and missed; another deer ran by and I shot it. Lee helped me carry the deer out and we soon found out I’d also shot the other deer. Lee never forgot about that and every once in awhile, in a subtle way, he’d joke about it. Lee had a great sense of humor and loved to hunt chukars, which involved a lot of hiking. We always managed to get a few.
Living in Idaho I didn’t get to see Lee much after we retired. He never changed when he went to the training academy — always friendly and fun. The last time I talked with him in 1999, he said he loved golfing, hiking and fishing.
We will all miss Lee – he was one-of-a-kind.
Dear Carole, Karl, Vera, Norman & Janel,
I am so sorry for the loss of your loved one. Please know that I am with you in heart and spirit. The obituary was beautifully created. He was a loving man.
Like I wrote in the guest book at the services. Lee is such and insperation. He will always remain close to heart to all of us. Joe, Paula, Willene and Mark.
Mrs. Metcalf, Carole, Karl & Family…
May God’s Peace Comfort You. We offer a heartfelt prayer in sympathy today that God will bless and comfort you in His own loving way.
Vera and family… We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Lee was a very sweet man that we were glad to have met and known. Please accept our condolances and know he is just a thought away. All our love and prayers are with you and your family. Love Ruby
Lee wasn’t like a father to us, he really was a father, brother and friend all rolled into one, along with his beautiful and loving wife and daughter. Our deepest condolences to Vera and Carole, to Lee, our fondest memories and profound thanks.
Vera,
Lee was one of the finest people that I ever had the honor to know. My time on his pistol team was full of joy, and a highlight of my life. My wife, Dorrie, and I send you our condolences on your loss.
Our deepest sympathies to the family. I Christine was so glad I got to meet Lee and joke around with him and hear his great stories.
Vera, Carole And Family:
You are always in are thoughts and prayers.
Vera,
My profoundest condolences on your loss. I will always remember Lee as the first friend I made on Hanford Patrol. He was my friend, mentor, and role-model. The world is a lesser place for his loss. Godspeed, Lee.
Guestbook for
Lee W. Metcalf