Born July 5, 1921 at his parents' home on Greenmount Avenue, Vernon (as he was known to his family); Lee, (the nickname he asked to be called by friends) was called to God's Heaven at 5:23 a.m., February 22, 2008 while a resident in the Rolling Park Manor Care Nursing Home. Vernon served inn the United States Navy from March 2, 1939 to October 20, 1945 when he received his Honorable Discharge. At the time he had attained the rank GM 21/C and was Gun Captain of a quad 40 mm on the U.S.S. Denver CL 58. In World War II, his ship was involved in three major naval battles in the Pacific Theatre during which the Denver took many direct hits, torpedoes and strafes from Japanese ships and aircraft. Vernon was a life member of the VFW. Before his illnesses, he lived in Towson, MD for 30+ years. When a teenager Vernon was a sheet metal worker at the Glenn L. Martin (Middle River Plant) and after his discharge, he became an MTA streetcar operator and later a "Million Mile 18 Wheeler Driver" for the Hall's Transportation Company. Vernon always referred to himself as "one lucky S.O.B" because he came through the entire WWII without being wounded, was happy with all his various employments and lived his life the way he wanted. His cremains will be interred with the rest of his immediate family in Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery, Forest Hill, MD. Interment will be private.