Obituary: Willie Mose Lee, Jr., 80, Radcliff
WILLIE MOSE LEE JR.
Willie Mose Lee, Jr., 80, of Radcliff, exchanged this life for his heavenly home on Sunday, March 5, 2017. He was born Dec. 25, 1936, in Nebo, Miss. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at an early age. He faithfully served in the body of Christ as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. At the time of his death he was member of Stithton Baptist Church.
He was a military man who served his country for 26 years with distinction. He was stationed in Germany; Korea; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Bragg, N.C.; and Jackson, Tenn. He was a retired Command Sergeant Major, a Green Beret, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, Drill Sergeant and a Vietnam veteran who served as a “tunnel rat.” His service did not stop after his military retirement. He worked as a civil service employee at Fort Knox.
He was a former North Hardin High School band booster; past Optimist International Vice President and past Distinguished Governor of the KY/WV Optimist District. He was a member of the Otter Creek Camp of the Gideons and a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans.
He was a licensed Amateur Radio operator for more than 30 years. He held an Amateur Extra Class license for many of those years, the service’s most difficult license to earn. He was a lifetime member of the OMIK Amateur Radio Association,
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mose and Sadie Lee; and siblings, Curtie Lee, Herbert Lee and Gertie Earls.
He leaves a loving family to celebrate his life and legacy, including his wife of 45 years, Frances Ann Thomas Lee of Radcliff; one son, Ibn D. Lee (Nicole) of Butler; two brothers, Isaac Lee (Yvonne) of Detroit and James Lee (Helen) of Biloxi, Miss.; brother-in-laws Weldon Thomas (Shirley), Lorenzo Thomas (Linda), and Raymond Thomas, all of Thorpe, W. Va., Andrew Thompson (Cathy) of Rock, W.Va., Maurice Thomas (Sabrina) of Winston Salem, N.C., Chester Thomas (Karen) of Charlotte, N.C.; one sister-in-law, Dietrich (Frank) Edwards of Winston Salem, N.C.; four grandchildren, Emily Simmons-Lee and Kyra Simmons, both of Radcliff, and Collin Gallagher and Chloe Gallagher, both of Butler; godchildren Amara Alexander of Huntsville, Ala, Kwame Woodard of Detroit, Nicolas Williams of Charlottesville, Va., Tyler Williams of Norfolk, Va., and Tracie Parton of Columbus, Ohio, Micah Alexander and Seth Alexander, both of Huntsville, Ala.; special friends Oscar and Louise Gordon, and Bill and Monica Grady; and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
The funeral is noon Saturday, March 11, 2017, at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Radcliff, with the Rev. O.C. Jones and the Rev. Denver Copeland officiating.
A graveside service with military honors is 10 a.m. Monday, March 13, 2017, at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central in Radcliff.
Visitation is 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 11, 2017, at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Radcliff.
The Coffey & Chism Funeral Home in Vine Grove is in charge of arrangements.
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