Byron R. Lee's Obituary
Byron R. Lee of Walkersville, Md. passed away on April 11, 2024 at the age of 92. He was the son of the late William Jennings Lee and Jessie Pearl Peters Lee. He was born in Wardensville, W.Va. on September 2, 1931 and grew up near Libertytown, Md. He went to school until the 9th grade, stopping to help support his family by working farms around Frederick and Libertytown. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy during the Korean War from 1950 to 1954, getting his GED and achieving the rank of AD 2, Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd class. He was stationed in El Centro, CA for 3 years, where he received his mechanical education and was also first exposed to fighting fires, training to rescue pilots from burning cockpits after a crash. He finished his time in the service on the island of Guam constructing and working on radio controlled 4 cylinder drones. He was a mechanic at Key Chevrolet in downtown Frederick and then Damascus Motor Company where he worked for 19 years as a diesel truck mechanic.
He married Nancy in 1955 and they were married just over 61 years. They had a house built on an acre lot on the corner of his family’s farm on Daysville Road where they raised their 3 children and lived the next 53 years. He enjoyed working on the farm after work and on weekends with his brothers and kids, building and fixing equipment, baling hay, raising animals and growing gardens. After the farm, he enjoyed wood working, making practically everyone he knew a pendulum clock or a wooden door harp. Nancy passed in 2016 and a little over a year later he moved to Victoria Park in Walkersville.
He is one of the charter members of the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Dept. and alongside other core members, they were responsible for organizing the department in 1964. He was among the first group to receive firefighter 1 training at the University of Maryland and fire fighter 2 training in Walkersville. He was instrumental in building the first tanker truck, Tanker 17 making the tank and pump assembly and putting it on the chassis of an old truck. He also helped make the first brush truck out of a run down vehicle that was donated to the company. He served as chief from 1970-1973, helped work many LVFD carnivals, helped and enjoyed many dinner dance fundraisers and helped at the Frederick Fair LVFD food tent.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Nancy Specht Lee, 2 sisters and 6 brothers. He is survived by his sons Steve (Barb) and Greg (Kim) and daughter Teresa/Terri Lee Koogler (Robin). 5 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and a few cousins. He was preceded by many good lifelong friends who not only enriched his whole life but also helped him begin a new chapter of his life after Nancy’s passing. He is survived by another group of very special friends who shared his love for playing cards and helped fill his days with laughter and joy. He loved all of his family and friends and he loved to spread joy with his daily Facebook blurb, saying good morning individually to over 50 people, always reminding everyone to drive carefully. A celebration of life is planned and the day will be shared celebrating his brother Walton who passed in January. We will celebrate these 2 brothers on Saturday, April 27 at 1:00 at the Libertytown Fire Dept. Hall.
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