Thomas Grant Lee

Friday, November 7, 2008

Thomas Grant Lee, 67, of Kendallville died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008 at Parkview Noble Hospital in Kendallville.

Mr. Lee was born in Terre Haute on March 11, 1941 to Archie E. and Lucy Ellen (Vaught) Lee.

He graduated from Brazil High School in 1959 and Indiana State University in 1964 with a Bachelor's degree in Education. He continued his education and obtained a Master's of Art and Teaching from DePauw University in 1970.

He married Sandra S. Marker on May 20, 1994 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. She survives.

Tom taught sixth grade at Indianapolis Public Schools for two years. He went on to teach and coach at Ridpath Elementary School in Greencastle for 10 years where he coached basketball, track, football and baseball at Greencastle High School.

He later changed careers in 1975 and became a commercial underwriter for TransAmerica Insurance.

He was promoted to territory manager of the Fort Wayne office and transferred to the General Accident Insurance Company as territory manager of the northern half of Indiana, working there 14 years before retiring in 1996.

He continued to work and went on to be employed with Centennial Wireless in customer service and as an auditor for about six years.

Tom was a member of the First Christian Church in Kendallville where he was active with First Christian Church choir, AWANA leader and participated in the men's golf league.

In the past, he was an active member of the Big Lake Church of God, Columbia City and was a Boy Scout Master. He was active in the Big Lake Church of God choir, youth and adult plays and home Bible studies.

Tom was past president and vice president of the Greencastle Teacher's Association, past Chairman of the Negotiations Committee for five years and past Chairman of the Indiana State Teachers Association, Elementary Division.

He also was on the Coordinating Council of the Indiana State Teachers Association and was selected "Outstanding Young Teacher" in 1969 by the Greencastle Jaycees.

He was a past member and office holder of the Greencastle Jaycees and chaired the Jaycee Indiana State Tennis Tournament one year.

An avid reader, Tom's other hobbies included golfing, genealogy, boating, cruising Cree Lake on his pontoon, fishing, canoeing and photography.

Other survivors include two sons, Michael Lee and wife Julie of Indianapolis and Jeffrey Kosteck of Columbia City; three daughters, Laurie Gobert and husband Shawn of Greencastle, Kelly Lee of New Holstein, Wisc. and Rachelle Neely and husband William of Columbia City; 11 grandchildren and niece Jenna Esarey, Jeffersonville.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Dom E. Lee, who was killed in Vietnam in 1968.

Visitation will be Sunday, Nov. 9, from 4-8 p.m. at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville. Visitation will also take place on Monday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at First Christian Church.

Funeral Services will be Monday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. at First Christian Church, at the corner of U.S. Hwy 3 and Waits Road in Kendallville.

Officiating the funeral service will be Rev. Dr. Thomas Clothier, Pastor Robert Farmer and Pastor Nathan Parker.

Burial will be at Christian Chapel Cemetery in Merriam, Indiana.

Casketbearers will be Tom Shepherd, Dave Langwell, Greg McNeal, Burt DeRusha, Mike Moran and Glenn Minser.

Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, Parkview Noble Hospice or American Cancer Society.

View a video tribute by Sunday or send condolences to the family at www.hitefuneralhome.com