Timothy A. Lee's Obituary
LEE, Timothy A., age 76, of Waynesville, passed away Thursday, June 26, 2025, at Miami Valley Hospital.
He graduated from Waynesville High School, class of ’67. Growing up with parents who were deaf, Tim’s first language was American Sign Language. To become officially certified, he attended Sinclair Community College and earned an Associate’s Degree, although he was already fluent in Sign Language and taught the instructors more than they taught him. He proudly served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, earning a Bronze Star for his achievements. He retired from Elano Corporation in Beavercreek after 25 years of service to the company. In addition, Tim served as the caretaker and a trustee member at Bellbrook Cemetery and Middle Run Cemetery for 10 years. In addition, he assisted several other small cemeteries, mostly those without a full-time caretaker, on a subcontract basis by digging graves, pouring foundations, and performing other necessary tasks. Tim was a dedicated member of Urbancrest Baptist Church in Lebanon, where he served on the board of trustees.
Hardworking, caring, loving, and often ornery in a funny way, Tim was honest to a fault and service-minded toward people in need. He grew up on a farm with parents who made their living in agriculture. Mechanically inclined, along with a lifelong love of farm life, Tim had a deep appreciation for tractors, lawn care equipment, and tools that could get the job done. He always enjoyed spending time on his machinery, tilling and bushhogging, which led to him maintaining the fields and gardens of several people, in addition to his own vegetable garden. As a man who genuinely loved helping people, he utilized his skills with heavy machinery to make a living later in life by digging graves for those who had passed away, which also enabled him to have a positive influence on the lives of others through his deep faith in God. With an outgoing personality, a love of socializing, and a desire to help people in troubled times, Tim always took the opportunity to assist others, specifically by sharing God’s word with those who stopped by the cemetery. Many people will attest to hearing Tim say, “I even got to talk to them about Jesus!”
Family-oriented, he took great pleasure in learning about his family’s heritage through genealogical research. For most of his adult life, Tim and his wife hosted the holidays for his family at their home, which became cherished memories. Additionally, he always enjoyed celebrating family birthdays. He never hesitated to join in with the customary happy birthday song, usually being the one to enliven the volume and excitement of the song. Throughout his life, he always had a cat to care for, with Mr. Gray and Amber being his current pets. Among many things, he will be remembered for his pride in serving his country during the Vietnam War, his love for his family, and his faith in God. In addition, his family will never forget his supportive words of wisdom, which they referred to as “Tim’s handy helpful hints.”
Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Orville and Helen Lee. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda; two daughters, Sheri (Glen) Beach and Michele (Pat) Keeley; four grandchildren, Ashley Beach, Ryan Beach, Alex (Bridget) Harrington, and Lauren Keeley; and two great-grandchildren, Olivia and Daisy.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 PM on Tuesday, July 1, at Conner & Koch Funeral Home in Bellbrook. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 AM on Wednesday at the funeral home, followed by a committal service and burial at Bellbrook Cemetery. Condolences at www.connerandkoch.com.
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