“Lee” as everyone knew him was born in Goshen Oregon on June 16, 1931 to Otis and Olive Bishop, their only child. His father worked on the railroad and his work led the family to Vanport a town north of Portland that was destroyed by flood in 1948. The family remained in the Portland area afterwards where Lee set down his roots.
After Lee graduated high school, he married Norma Newman in 1951, and had four children; Lisa, Shelly, Doug, and Jennifer. He later divorced Norma in 1968. In 1978 he married Ella Stell who preceded him in death in 2016. Along with his marriage to Ella, he became dad and mentor to Michael her son who he trained in the business and shared his love of electronics, hunting, fishing and the hobby of RC airplanes.
Starting his career with a paper route as a boy, next he repaired radios, owned a hobby shop, and worked at Iron Fireman as a tool and die maker in the late 50’s. Later Lee took a job with Meier and Frank Co. in the downtown Portland store. Starting as a salesman in home appliances, he eventually became the buyer for the home electronics department at Meier and Frank working with the owners on a daily basis. Lee next worked as General Manager for Fred Schwary Co. in Portland overseeing all of the operations for a multi-million-dollar company. He finally stopped working for others to run his own businesses at 21st and Powell Blvd, i.e. Newman’s Furniture and Appliance, Central Service Co., and Lees T.V. and Appliance. He has operated Lee’s T.V. and Appliance in Central Oregon from 1981 until the present day. Lee loved to hunt, fish, build and fly remote controlled airplanes. He had been in the RC hobby since the early 50’s and was very proud to have built airplanes for Nevilles E. "Jim" Walker, the founder of the American Junior Aircraft Company.
Lee was a life member of the “Elks Lodge, an active member in the La Pine Moose and member of the American Legion. Lee also was a Freemason. Lee will be laid to rest at Lincoln Memorial, 11801 N.E. Mt. Scott Blvd Portland Oregon where he will join his wife Ella and his parents. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Lees’ name to The Elks Children’s Eye Clinic.
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