Lee Kitchens

Services for Lee Kitchens, 73, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 17, 2003, in Heritage Church of Lubbock with burial in Resthaven Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the direction of Englunds Funeral Service in Slaton. Mr. Kitchens died after a sudden illness Monday, May 12, at University Medical Center.

--Kitchens

He was born March 29, 1930, in Fort Worth and graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth. He graduated in 1955 from Southern Methodist University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. Lee began a distinguished career with Texas Instruments beginning as an intern in 1952 and continuing until his retirement in 1990. Throughout his career his work took him to numerous locations in the U.S. and abroad. Lees career involved work in semiconductor production and support, calculator design, production management, home computer production, and engineering management. From 1985 to 1990 Lee was on loan from TI to Texas Tech University where he taught as a visiting professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering. For the next two years he was industry professor for that department. Lee began in 1995 consulting and investigating electrical and electronic equipment involved in residential and commercial appliance fire investigation. Lee also distinguished himself in many humanitarian associations. He served two terms 1964-1968 as the National President of the Little People of America. He was presently serving as National VP of Membership and National Assistant to Finance for LPA. He established the LPAs national database, first adoption committee, the national newsletter, and district 8 in the LPA. He had been a voice and a presence along with others for LPA on Discovery and PBS educational programs. He was a representative for the International Growth Federation, representing individuals with growth disorders, and was one of 16 delegates from Texas to the White House conference on disabilities in 1978. He was a charter member in the founding of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities in 1978 and served as President, Vice President and Treasurer. He was a 26-year member of the Human Growth Foundation, serving as a member of the board of directors, VP, and President from 1988 to 1991. Lee also distinguished himself in civil organizations. He was a two-term alderman and five-term mayor of Ransom Canyon and was still serving on the Building Control Committee. Lee held offices in local ham radio clubs and emergency communications agency in the Lubbock Amateur Radio Club, ARRL, ASM, Adir & SM WTX, and the Lubbock County RACES/ARES. He was also a licensed pilot. He served as an officer and director on the South Plains Food Bank, Breedlove Dehydration Plant, and Family Services of Lubbock. He was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, Texas Society of Professional Engineers, Institute of Industrial Engineers, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He received three patents in chemistry, physics and semiconductor systems, was recognized by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers as Engineer of the Year in 1978, and in 1988 received the George T. and Gladys Hanger Abell Faculty Award from Texas Tech University. He married Mary Bell Perryman in 1955. She preceded him in death in 1982. His daughter, Sandra Lynn Fennimore, preceded him in death in 1991, and son, Alan, on Nov. 9, 2000.

His survivors include three grandchildren, Rebekah Rose Kitchens of Ransom Canyon, and Teata Lin and Neiman Lee Fennimore, both of Scotts Mills, Ore.; a sister, Carol Harvard of Westlake Village, Calif.; a daughter-in-law, Donna Kitchens of Ransom Canyon; and two cousins, Pat Bunyard of Lubbock and Dave Sarles of Houston. The family will have visitation at the funeral home Friday, May 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

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