R.T. LEE


I see in Mac Gates' obituary that his son is Rual T. Lee. 
Is this the R.T. Lee who was in our class?
-Bill Lamkins
(7/9/03)

One and the same.
R. T. also had an older sister, Pat, who married Bill Parker... the son of my third grade teacher. 
Bill was in the heating and air-conditioning business in Houston, 
when a bearded guy (Colonel Sanders) asked him if he knew how to cook chicken faster. 
Bill was awarded a patent for the method and apparatus and later became the V. P. of KFC. 
He and Pat divorced many years ago and Pat has since died.
R. T. is not doing well, healthwise. 
In fact, he is under a doctor's care and was told that his health would not allow a trip from Arizona to Malvern, to attend Mac's funeral.
Numerous cancer surgeries... mostly involving his jaws and legs. 
I suspect it the Agent Orange to which he was exposed in Viet Nam, but the military has discounted it as the cause. 
Lost many friends due to Agent Orange. 
We were not advised of the risks at that time. 
Can only hope that it saved more lives than it cost. 
At least, that is my prayer for now deceased comrades exposed to it.
-Ken Gray
(7/11/03)

Posted at the Malvern 1960 Club:
Subject: R. T. Lee & Terminal Diagnosis 
It seems that R. T.'s cancer has spread and the prognosis is terminal (0 to 9 months). 
 He is currently in the the Veteran's Hospital in Phoenix (602 277-5551 X-4891) and asked for no phone calls because of his weakness and pain while speaking.  
He asked instead that notes be sent to:  Rual T. Lee, Jr.; 843 South Longmore- Apt 2161; Mesa, AZ 85202.  His wife will bring them to him.
You might also pray for his mother who lost her husband, Mac, last year.
Please keep them in your prayers.
-Ken 
(4/12/04)

I'm really sorry to hear about R.T.'s health problems.
I'll get a card off to him right away and I hope others will too.
Thanks for the info, Ken.
-Bill 
(4/13/04)

I just got back online on our group site.  Ken had told me about R. 
T., I'm so sorry to hear about him.  Great picture of Mrs. Franklin.  
She doesn't look much older than we do does she?  LOL
-Judy Keeley
(4/13/04)

Thanks Ken for letting us know about R.T. I sent him a letter today.
-Charlie Hargrove
(4/14/04)

On a sad note, our classmate R. T. Lee passed today.  
Funeral arrangements are incomplete by Regency Funeral Home.  
I know that he has been in poor health for several years. 
My prayers are with the family.
Later...
-Martha Chadwick Lindvall
(4/22/04)

Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.
Later...
-Martha
(4/23/04)

May God be with the family of R. T. Lee.  
From what I understand he had suffered a lot.  He is at peace now.  God Bless them all.
Mary Jo Avery and Johnny Bailey
(4/23/04)

Aunt Elizabeth was able to get to Phoenix and talk to R. T. before he passed away.  
He had requested that she come out there, as he was unable to come to Malvern to say goodbye and wanted to see her one last time.  
R. T., in a semi-conscious state squeezed his Mother's hand after hearing her voice, Wednesday.  
He passed away at 1:30 a.m. the next morning.  
His physicians told Elizabeth that he was holding on until he could say goodbye and tell her of his love.
Funeral arrangements are preliminary at this point, but visitation is scheduled for Sunday (Don't know where, yet) 
and a graveside service at Macedonia Graveyard (Near Des Arc) on Monday.  
I'll get more details tomorrow and will advise.
He received your many letters and cards and sent his heartfelt thanks. (Also, thank you, from me for writing.)
Will keep you posted.
-Ken
(4/24/04)

Gene and I will be praying for the family as they pass through the days of the funeral and burial.  
Loss and sorrow are very hard to bear.  
Their little family has a great place in my memories of Jr. High School, where I first knew Mr. Gates, and then R. T., 
and all of us are bound to have many sweet memories of them.  
-Gene and Pat Lackey
(4/24/04)
 
Visitation-  Sunday, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Regency Funeral Home in Malvern
Graveside Services-  2:00 p.m., Monday, at Macedonia Cemetery, out of Dalark
Flowers-  Instead of flowers, Aunt Elizabeth requested that 
contributions be made to their church, in R. T.'s memory.  Address is:

        Calvary Baptist Church
        1267 Ford Drive
        Malvern, Arkansas 72104

        Attention:  Rual T. Lee Memorial Fund/ Building Fund

Aunt Elizabeth said that R. T. was appreciative of all the cards and letters he received from classmates at MHS and asked me to thank everyone.
R. T.'s wife, Jeannie, is also in poor health and cannot attend the 
graveside services.  His first wift, Karen, and their children, 
however, will be there.
Thanks to the Lord for relieving him of his many years of pain.
-Ken
(4/24/04)

My condolences and sympathy to the family too.
I've posted a senior year pic of R.T. on the Club's homepage.
I'll start working on his memorial webpage as soon as I have more info.
If you see an obituary, please post it here at the Club.
Thanks,
-Bill
(4/24/04)

Senior Activities - Band 1, 2, 3, 4; Band Captain 4
-MHS 1960 Yearbook

Friday's MDR did not mention his passing and they do not publish on weeends.
Perhaps, Monday.
Ken
(4/24/04)