William Lee Klingensmith passed away Sunday, September 11, 2011 in Westminster, CO. He was born January 28, 1943 in Braddock, PA the son of Gail Boyd Klingensmith and Elizabeth Jean (Peoples) Klingensmith. Lee was raised in Pitcairn, PA. He played football, baseball, and wrestled at Monroeville, PA High School and graduated in 1960.
Lee joined the US Air Force, and served in Vietnam. During his four years in the military, he met the love of his life, Patricia Ann Slaven. They married July 15, 1966 and moved to Muncie after he left the Air Force. He worked for many years for the Norfolk Southern, retiring in 1991. Upon retirement, Lee moved to Satsuma, FL, where he drove a school bus for the local school district.
Lee was a member of the Satsuma Baptist Church and was active in the Moose Lodge in Muncie and Florida. In Florida, he was a Moose Chaplain and won a statewide award. Lee was also a lifelong Pittsburg Steelers fan.
Lee is survived by his wife, Patricia; son, William Lee Klingensmith II (wife Tammy); grandchildren Jacob Scott and Collena Nicolle Klingensmith; great grandchildren, Gabrielle Nicolle Olter, Darrien Skyler Olter, and Pippa Klingensmith, all of Satsuma, FL. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Wilda Slaven, and sisters-in-law, Janice Fine-Bickell (husband Kent), June Seymour (husband Dan), Barbara Bullard (husband Stacy) and Brenda Mohler (husband Charles).
Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 2:00 PM at Garden View Funeral Home, 10501 N. State Rd. 3, Muncie, in 47303 with Pastor Collins Glenn of Grace Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until service time at the funeral home. The family requests memorial contributions to The American Cancer Society.