Vernon G. Lee

Vernon is survived by the love of his life and wife, Nelda Mae Dunn Lee, to whom he was married for 56 years, children, Rhonda Shoemaker and husband, Bill, of Pflugerville TX , Glen Lee and wife, Brenda, of Leander, TX, Stephen Lee and wife, Tracy, of Bertram, TX; sister, Kathryn Hanks and the late Maynor Hanks of Ira, TX; brother, Tom R. Lee Jr. and the late Lanelle Lee of Sweetwater, TX; Sister-in-law, Kathleen Moore and husband, Jimmy, of Cedar Hill TX, sister-in-law, Connie Dunn and Jim McBroom, of Austin, TX, ten grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews and his “constant companion”, Dexter the dog.

Mr. Lee was a 1949 graduate of Newman High School, Sweetwater Tx. He served in the Navy aboard the USS WALTON during the Korean Conflict. His home port was Hawaii, but he also toured in the Far East.

After four years in the Navy, he returned to his former job with the Santa Fe Railroad in Sweetwater TX. He later worked with the Southern Pacific Railroad in and around south Texas before moving to Austin TX in 1962.

After retiring from the railroad, he began working for the US POSTAL SERVICE in June of 1968. He retired from the post office in 1995 with combined government employment of 30 years.

Vernon was a quiet man of few words but was loved dearly by his family and friends. He enjoyed travelling with his family in the pickup, camper, a trailer and later a motorhome. They saw most of the 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska and trips into Canada and to the Panama Canal.

He and Nelda were members of the Goldwing Honda Club, the Good Sam RV Club, The Lone Star Travelers and The Winnebago Club.

In the early 70’s Vernon, Nelda and the kids enjoyed square dancing with The Sweethearts Club.

They enjoyed boating and water skiing on Lake Travis and Decker Lake.

Vernon never missed a game on TV when the Cowboys or the Longhorns were playing.

Birthdays, holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas would find Vernon surrounded by family and all the kids, grandkids, great-grandkids where he was known as “Papa” or “Poppie”.

A memorial service will be conducted at half past eleven o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 23rd of January 2013, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

Private interment at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen TX.

In lieu of flowers and customary remembrances, memorials may be sent to Christopher House/Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, Texas, 78759.