Bert Lenny

ALBERT THOMAS "BERT" LENNY, 102, passed away Thursday, July 11, 2024. He was born Sept 26, 1921, in Deaconess Hospital, Spokane, WA, to Thomas C. Lenny and Carrie Grace (Dowland) Lenny. The family home was located in the town of Opportunity, which is now part of the Spokane Valley. He attended schools in the Valley, graduating from West Valley High School in 1939. During his school days, he was a member of the Boy Scouts and enjoyed hiking and camping trips and was able to earn the rank of LIFE scout. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Navy with the majority of his time on duty aboard ships in the Pacific area and Alaska until the end of WWII. In 1946, he met the love of his life and married Joanne Keegan in Spokane. Their first son, Alan arrived in 1950, followed by a daughter, Loretta. Lastly, son, Tom. After all 3 offspring had finished schooling and left the nest, to seek fame and fortune, Joanne and Bert made many enjoyable trips in their trailer/motorhome to interesting places with their favorite location being the Oregon Coast. In 1950, Bert was recalled into active duty in the Navy, for the Korean War. Shortly after getting home from that tour of duty, the family moved to the Southern California area. One assignment was Radio Operator/Technician aboard the GOODYEAR "Blimp". When the Airship was ordered to return to factory in Akron, Ohio, Bert transferred to the CAA/FAA to begin training as a Flight Service Specialist at the base in Long Beach, CA. After training was completed, he was assigned to a small airport in Malad City, Idaho. After 2 years he was assigned to Ellensburg, WA, temporarily while the new station at Pangborn Field in Wenatchee was being completed. He spent the remainder of 20 years there until retirement in 1979. After Joanne suffered a second stroke in 1999, Bert married Dorothy Rose (Hayter) Gills. Bert and Dorothy made several interesting trips including a Honeymoon in Hawaii, a cruise to the Caribbean Isles, South America, Disneyland, cruises to Alaska, Las Vegas, railroad trip through the Canadian Rockies. A few years later Dorothy developed Dementia and after 4 years in Memory Care, passed away in 2017. Bert was very fortunate to have grown up right in the middle of the great "Golden Years" of the Big Band era. He used to listen on the radio to all of the "Remote" broadcasts from well-known hotels and ballrooms and other night spots. He had a collection of their hit records and was able to see many of them in person. His other hobby was Amateur "Ham" radio with the call letters of W7IBC. Many times, especially on the very long, lonely, dark winter nights and often extending into the wee hours, he would tune very slowly across the dial, hoping to hear another "Far Away Place” with a strange-sounding name to add to his list. He was a member of the A R R L. He was the "last Man standing" at Pangborn Field former FAA voice, "Wenatchee Radio" of 1959-1990. Bert was a pre-war Veteran of WWII/Korea He was also a member of the American Legion. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Anne; Loretta - 2002, Alan - 2018, first wife, Joanne- 1999. 2nd wife, Dorothy – 2017. A Graveside Service will be Tuesday, July 23, 1:00pm at Wenatchee City Cemetery, 1804 N Western Ave., Wenatchee. Arrangements by Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Bert Lenny

September 26, 1921 - July 11, 2024