Walter Klee Grumbine

W. Klee Grumbine, 91, of St. Joseph died Saturday at Lakeland Hospital ? St. Joseph Friends may call from 5:00 ? 8:00 Tuesday, August 23, 2005, at the Kerley- Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2001 Niles Ave., St. Joseph, with the Rev. Dr. Bob Braman officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery with Military Rites. Memorials may be made to the First Congregational Church. Friends wishing to send a condolence message online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Klee was born on November 21, 1913 in Westminster, Maryland to John & Clara (Klee) Grumbine. In 1936 he graduated from Western Maryland College with a B.A. Degree. He took an extension course in Business at the Boston University from 1937-1938. Klee married Dorothy Twigg on June 23, 1939 in Westminster, Maryland. Klee was called to active duty as a First Lieutenant on September 5, 1941. He served as a Squadron Commander at the Lubbock Army Air Field between 1941 and 1943 and was promoted to Captain, Major, and then Lieutenant Colonel. He became the Processing Officer in 1944 and received overseas orders in June of 1945. Klee reported to the Island of Tinian in the Marianas Group in the South Pacific. He became the Executive Officer of the 6th Bomber Group 313th Wing, 20th Air Force which was a B-29 Group. He was honorably discharged on April 30, 1946. He worked for Telechron, Inc., a division of G.E., from 1936 to 1948, becoming their National Services and Installation Manager. Working from 1946 to 1949 he became Merchandising Manager of American Kitchens, a division of AVCO. Joining the Whirlpool Corp. in 1956, he became their National Sales Training Manager and was promoted to Director of Personnel of the Laundry Group. Klee?s final job was Manager of Sales and Distribution. He retired in June 1977. Klee was the past Chairman of the Berrien County Red Cross and a board member for 15 years. He also was a member of the Speakers Committee United Fund for many years. In addition to working at Whirlpool he was a ?Loaned Executive? to United Fund by Whirlpool. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Tau Fraternity at Western Maryland; he received the Rotary Medal award by Rotary Club, he was given the senior high school ?Best All-around Male Student Award?, the District award of Merit and the Silver Beaver award, both for the Wabano District of Boy Scouts of America, he was a member of the board of directors ?Babe Ruth League? for 5 Years, and Chairman of the board of trustees of First Congregational Church, between 1981and 1982. Klee is survived by his wife Dorothy ?Dottie? of St. Joseph, one daughter Virginia (Frank) Brock of Lathrup Village, MI; two sons – Thomas (Janet) Grumbine of Wyoming, MI, and David (Sally) Grumbine of St. Joseph; 12 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by a daughter Linda Lee Grumbine, and his sister Katherine Whitehead.