Ralph Gilbert Lee

The following obituary was lovingly submitted by the family of Ralph Gilbert Lee: 

On August 7, 2021, Ralph Gilbert Lee of Savage, Md. passed away at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home at the age of 101. Ralph was born on January 21, 1920, to Robert E. and Mary T. Lee.

Ralph served in the U.S Navy from October 1944 to April 1946 during which time he deployed to the Pacific Theater abroad the USS MT. RUSHMORE. After the Navy, he worked at Barton and Hayward in Baltimore, Md. until going to work at the Laurel Children’s Center in September 1946. He retired from the Children’s Center in 1980 after 34 years with the Federal Government.

Ralph became a member of Savage Baptist Church in 1937. It was there at Training Union on a Sunday evening that he met Aileen Bell, his future wife. They were married for 66 years until her death in 2007. He started his service to the church at the age of 14 when he helped dig out the first church basement. Ralph served in many capacities of the church: Sunday School superintendent, Deacon, Trustee, and he helped start Md. City Baptist Church and Jessup Baptist. He especially liked singing in the choir and playing his trumpet. But most of all he loved teaching Sunday School. Teaching and sharing the Word of God was what God wanted him to do. His favorite hymn was “How Great Thou Art”.

He loved baseball and played in the church league. He was the catcher and his youngest brother, Clayton, was the pitcher. Camping was also his favorite pastime.

Bob Shockney was a special friend. They were always doing things together. When Bob passed in September 2010, Ralph said he lost his best friend.

Ralph Lee is survived by their daughter, Karen Lee Elliott (Raymond), granddaughters, Pamela Grzyb, (Paul), and Amylee Downing (John), great-grandchildren, Sarah and Ethan Grzyb and Will and Joshua Downing.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Aileen Lee and daughter Darlene Lee, and his brothers Robert and Charles, and sisters, Helen, and Mary Ann.

The family will receive friends at First Baptist Church of Savage on Saturday, August 14th, from 1-2 PM, services will begin at 2 PM, internment will be at the Savage Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Savage and the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home.

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