Former Phillipsburg resident, Lee Chase, passed away February 29, 2012 at the Pinnacle Park Nursing Home in Salina, Kansas at the age of 87.

Lee was born September 26, 1924 in Goodman, Missouri to Lewis Hezekiah Chase and Hazel (Troxel) Chase. He grew up and attended high school in Goodman.

In April, 1943, Lee joined the U. S. Navy. After completing basic training at the U. S. Naval base in Farragut, Idaho he was assigned to the Farragut U. S. Navy Hospital Corps School and later served at the U. S. Navy Hospital in Corona, California as a Pharmacists Mate. Lee served aboard the U.S.S. American Legion, a troop transport ship, as a medical corpsman and later served aboard a salvage and rescue vessel, the U.S.S. Space A I R.28, from which he was honorably discharged in April, 1946 as WWII ended.

Lee worked for the Rock Island Railroad from 1949 through 1980 as a train order clerk and telegraph operator. He was on duty when the last eastbound Rock Island train passed through Phillipsburg, Kansas. He was a member of B. R. A. C., Brotherhood of Railway Airline & Steamship Clerks, and a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post 1360 in Phillipsburg.

His military service in the Navy during WWII was a great source of pride and provided many hours of stories about his adventures and his buddies in Corona, California. He also enjoyed talking about surviving the depression era as a child and about various characters he associated with while growing up in southwest Missouri.

In his spare time he enjoyed the challenges of woodworking and prided himself on quality craftsmanship. After his retirement he enjoyed fishing, camping, and traveling the United States, having visited and camped in about thirty states with his travel trailer.

Lee was most happy spending his summers fishing the Poudre River in Colorado, wintering near Brownsville, Texas, and going for rides in small airplanes with anyone willing to take him up.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wives, Ruth Jean (Plotner) Chase in 1968 and Wilma (Stapel) Chase in 2006, and his sister, Velma Dean (Chase) Bradfield of Neosho, MO in 2010.

Survivors include his children: Marty Chase & wife, Maribeth, Gail Weir & husband, Rick and Dustin Chase & wife, Doris, all of Salina, KS; four granddaughters: Skylar Yarahowitz of Denver, CO; Robin Weir of Waconia, MN; Amy Chase of Hutchinson, KS; and Kellie Chase of Grand Junction, CO; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Dolis Harvey of Neosho, MO and a brother, Hubert Chase of Aledo, TX.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 5, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. in the First Presbyterian Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Chris Davis officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Golden Years Senior Center.