Lee B. Sprague's Obituary
Lee B. Sprague, age 94, passed away Saturday, January 16, 2016. Lifelong Strongsville resident, married 52 years to (the late) Irene Kovacs; survived by daughters Linda, Diane and Sharon Sprague. Son of Inez and Ben Sprague (township’s last part-time mayor), three brothers and three sisters. Descendent of settler David Sprague, for whom Sprague Rd. is named. Strongsville Methodist Church trustee, and member for 83 years. 1939 Strongsville High School graduate. WW II Pacific service as radar man first class aboard battleship USS North Carolina. Postwar homebuilder in town for 15 years, then 20-year real estate career with Olesick and Bishop Realties. Bus driver for Strongsville school system (30 years) and Strongsville’s City Bus (13 years), retiring in 1991. He had two lifelong devotions. He grew up on a farm, and stayed connected to the land through decades of large-scale gardening. And he was very committed to supporting his hometown. Contributions included: two-term at-large Strongsville City Councilman (1962-1967); Strongsville Board of Education member (1956-1960); charter (1952) and long-time member Strongsville Kiwanis Club; charter (1962) and long-time member Strongsville Historical Society; volunteer Fire Department member (19 years); Strongsville Recreation Board member (12 years) and involved in starting town’s baseball Little League, coaching boys’ and girls’ teams, and being a long-time supporter of Mustang football; charter member (1941) and trustee of Strongsville Chamber of Commerce, an early organizer of its annual Carnival and tent manager (29 years). He honored residents serving in the military by donating a memorial on the town’s Freedom Trail. He was also a Southwest General Hospital Board trustee (1962-1968), a 4H representative to the Cuyahoga County Fair board and 4H Club advisor (10 years). He was elected to the Strongsville Athletic Hall of Fame (1994), chosen as the first Grand Marshal of its Carnival parade (1993), and was honored by the Strongsville Rotary Foundation with the Henry Fuehrer Fellows award for community service (2006). A private service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Strongsville Historical Society (13305 Pearl Rd., Strongsville, OH 44316) are requested.
What’s your fondest memory of Lee ?
What’s a lesson you learned from Lee ?
Share a story where Lee 's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Lee you’ll never forget.
How did Lee make you smile?
