Gilbert Lee

Gilbert Lee was born in Fresno, Ca and was one of 7 children born to Henry C. and Minnie Lee. He is survived by one brother Norman and his wife Gladys. He is survived by his wife, Dolores and 5 children: Ruthanne and spouse Randy, Steven and spouse Lisa, Diana, and Russell and spouse Anita, Richard and spouse Mitsuko. He also has 4 grandchildren Samantha, Audrey, Bryce and Jordan Lee.

Gilbert graduated from Edison high school in 1948 and became a carpenter and moved up as an estimator working for the Larsen – Ratto Company. He later switched to Standard Sheet Metal and learned the sheet metal trade. Afterwards he started his own company in 1979, Gilbert Lee construction specializing in commercial air conditioning and heating and installing restaurant equipment.

He enjoyed bass fishing in San Francisco bay with friends and family and was a member of the Fay Wah club. He loved to take his family on trips to Hawaii, Mexico and on a Caribbean Disney cruise and to Disney World. With the family, he would take 2 week whirlwind trips to Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Nevada in a truck camper. The family would also take trips to Oregon, Washington, Idaho and go fishing up at Shaver and Huntington lakes. After the children left the house, he and Dolores would take multiple international trips overseas to New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Europe , Central America, and Southeast Asia.

Gilbert loved to innovate and create things on his own, like making sheet metal snow sleds for his kids and outfitting a truck camper with flexible duct from the air conditioner to the camper so the kids could keep cool.

Gilbert sold his business to his sons Richard and then later Steven. Even in retirement, he still kept busy repairing equipment for old clients and puttering around his vegetable garden.

The family of Gilbert Lee would like you to post any fond memories of Gilbert that you remember here on the site. If you would like to send a card of sympathy, please send it to Gilbert Lee Construction, 2675 S. East Ave., Fresno, CA 93706.

The family wishes that in lieu of flowers that donations be sent in Gilbert’s memory to the children’s diabetes foundation. The link is here: https://www.childrensdiabetesfoundation.org/donate/