Charles A. Lee

Charles (Charlie) A. Lee

96 years young

September 8,1927

Born: Wichita, Kansas

Surviving relatives: Wife Betty L Lee, Daughter Judy M. Lee, Son Roger A. Lee, Son Donald G. Lee, Daughter Carol A. Koehn, Step Daughter Le Ann Sather (Kevin), Step Daughter Linda Fowler (John), Step Son Richard Johns, Grand Children: Shane Bockelman, Shana Bockelman, Sarah Ewertz, Justin Ewertz, Brandon Lee, Jennifer, Phillip Lee, Christopher Lee, Austion Johnson, Cassie Johnson, Step Grandchildren Brandon Johns, Crystal Riley, Randall Johns, Byron Johns, Brenton Johns, Alissia Starling, Ethan Johns, Emma Santiago, Lindsey Sears, Stephanie Turban, Cody Johns, Jessica Fowler, Laura Koopsma, and numerous Great Grand Children.

Passed 11 July 2024 Wichita, Kansas

The viewing will be Wednesday, July 17 at Culbertson-Smith Funeral Home 115 South Seneca, Wichita, Kansas from 1pm to 8pm. The family will be available from 4pm -8pm.

The Services will be Thursday, July 18 at Northside Church of Christ 4545 N Meridian Wichita Kansas at 10am. Procession after services to White Chapel Cemetery 1806 N Oliver St. Wichita, KS.

Charlie was married to Betty on March 5, 2001, in Greenbriar, Arkansas. They resided in Wichita on the northside of town close to where Charlie had grown up. During his life he served in the Merchant Marines and was activated to the Coast Guard during World War II, After the war he came back to Wichita where he worked for Coleman MFG and Boeing. He eventually left Boeing and started his own successful automotive garage which he ran for over 20 years. In the early 80’s he worked in both his garage and had gone back to Boeing. He finally closed his garage in the early 90’s when he moved to the north side of Wichita.

During his time with the garage, he was a huge supporter of the local dirt track racing scene at 81 Speedway where he eventually became a lifetime member of their “Hall of Fame”. He enjoyed going out and watching races when one of his grandchildren was racing.

Charlie had another hobby he truly enjoyed and that was riding motorcycles. During his lifetime, he traveled all 48 states and some Canadian providences. He was a member of the “Retread Motorcycle Club” and stayed active in the club till his passing. At rallies he was well known, and folks enjoyed his stories about trips, and you always knew where he was at. Just look for the crowd. At the rallies Charlie was very competitive competing in such games a “wiener biting contest”, slow race (see who could go the slowest), barrel race (pushing a barrel with the front wheel), ball toss (putting a tennis ball in a bucket while moving), and several other games on his motorcycle. His last motorcycle gathering was in 2022 when he went to Russellville, Arkansas. He enjoyed watching the dirt track racing and visiting with a ton of good friends he rode with through the years.

Till his later years Charlie always had one of the largest gardens in the neighborhood and enjoyed his time gardening and sharing the labors of the garden with family and neighbors. In his neighborhood he was the guy everyone went to when they needed something fixed or repaired. Between him and his best friend John, you always saw them in one of the other yards working on something from dawn to dusk or enjoying a cup of coffee.

Charlie knew no stranger and it was well observed when ever he would walk into a restaurant the staff and folks would holler hey Charlie and when he sat down if he didn’t know you, he would strike up a conversation with you to find out about you.

He was a member of the Northside Church of Christ in Wichita.

Preceded in death by his parents Harry and Helen Lee, brothers, Lawerance, Donald, Bill, Kenny, Jack and Phillip Lee, wife’s Juana Mahanna, Cathy Lee, daughter Melody Lee, and Step Grandson James Holbrook.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Charles Lee’s name to Know your Bible, Northside Church of Christ 4545 N Meridian, Wichita, KS 67204.