Lewis ‘Harlan’ Lee
1935 - 2022
passed away on July 22, 2022, at his home, surrounded by family.
Harlan, also known as “Old Gringo” by loved ones, was born in Holtville. He graduated from Brawley High School, where he played baseball and was a top scholar. He attended Southern Methodist University on an academic scholarship. After a year, he joined the US Army during the Korean War and served as a psychiatric tech at an Army hospital in Germany. After the Army, he attended Mexico City College, then returned to the states. He received an AA from Chaffey College, and a BA and master’s degrees from Redlands University.
Harlan managed a Pacific Finance and Loan Company in Indio, where he also owned a Blue Chip Stamp Store, managed a Credit Bureau and drove a delivery truck for the U.S. Post Office on a morning route to Blythe. While he waited for the afternoon mail for Indio, he ran his soda bottling plant in Blythe. Then he would return to Indio to check in at his businesses there.
In the 1970s, Harlan worked in the mobile home and RV industry at Santa Anita Mobile Homes in Chandler, Arizona, and Wickes Mobile Homes in Riverside, Plywood LA in Los Angeles and Chinook Motorhomes in Laverne. He also worked as a welfare fraud investigator for the County of Riverside and later became an administrative officer for the counties of Riverside, Santa Cruz and Monterey. He was a school board member for the Cucamonga School District in Cucamonga. He retired and spent the past 20 years living in Sonora.
Harlan is survived by his wife of 34 years, Josefina Clariza Lee; his children, Thomas Edward Lee (spouse Lisa Rae), Deborah Ann Schaller (spouse Gary), Laura Lee Williams (spouse Erick Tan-wah) and Kathryn Lee Flud (spouse Alexander Keith); grandchildren Jillian Rae Bernstein, Jeffrey Thomas Lee, Jon Schaller, Ryan Schaller, Mark Schaller, Steven Williams, Patrick Williams, Trevor Lee Flud and Molly Elizabeth Flud; 10 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Nancy Lorraine Lee.
Harlan was predeceased by his son, Lewis (infant, stillborn); his parents, Elsworth and Agnes Lee; and his siblings, Walter Elsworth Lee (spouse Sharon) and Selma Sue Faulkner (spouse Herschel).
A viewing and memorial was held in July at Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home with military honors. He was cremated, and inurnment will be at San Joaquin National Cemetery at a later date.
Notice
SANCHEZ — Susan Sanchez, 55,died Wednesday, Aug. 3, at her home in Twain Harte. Sierra Cremation and Burial Service is handling arrangements.