Walter "Red" Lemon Jr.

I am so sorry of your loss. He was a close friend of my parents Roger and Kathy Plate. He was a big personality in my eyes when I met him at the age of 10. He took pleasure in the animals I donated to his little petting zoo outside of Chandler. My condolences.

You, the family of Red Lemon, don't know me.... But I knew Red and Joan as a young child. My parents were Jim and Doris Dunlap. We lived in Phoenix 1946-1951. Red and Joan and my folks were great friends during those years. Red taught my mom how to make "those tacos". I took tap lessons from Joan. When we moved from Arizona to Ohio Red took us to the airport in his red convertible. He did donuts on the tarmac! The reason I looked up his name tonight is I'm watching a biography of Frank...

My name is Annemarie, and I am Walter's niece -- the daughter of his older sister Bertha. I don't have many memories of Walter when he was a young man, but have heard stories that he was as fiery as his red hair.

As a six-year old, I took dancing lessons and later Walter married Joan, my dance instructor. Together they had three children -- Walt III, Dianemarie and Cheryle.

Raising his family, serving in three different war situations and working construction, he was a...

Daddy, You've been gone a month, and I still can't believe it. We thought we have time with you for at least another decade. But, I know you're happy and visiting with mama. You two were the perfect match. She always said so, and you always said she was the one for you. You just couldn't work things out in this world. You tried to make amends to all who you may have offended. When we were small, you took care of us. You were a good man. You are missed and loved.
Love, your daughter.

I just had to share this with you. Son Craig in Korea told his 7-year- old twins about Uncle Walter. His wife Jen just e-mailed to tell me that McKenna has no idea who he is, but since Craig told her of his passing, she has been saying a prayer every night that he is happy in heaven. I loved that story.

Will miss you at the Memorial tomorrow--hope that all goes well!
Jeanne

Best memory from Grandpa...sitting down in his ranch house (one of the many) and he was cooking his famous grease ball tacos, (ground beef (the 80/20 variety) browned with potatoes put in to soak up the beef grease, oregano, salt, pepper to taste. Then he would fry up his own tortillas in lard, throw in the beef mixture and put them in a bowl to drain.) He said, when you get my age you need the grease to help it slide down and through. Made me laugh and I still tell the story to this day.

If I can do anything to help please let me know. Marilou Mc of WVP.

"Red" Lemon was a one-of-a-kind man. He loved his women. He loved to dance. He loved to build ... and not necessarily in that order! I had the privilege of being with him at his passing ... it was a special moment to share with my wife Dianemarie. You don't get a lot of chances to say goodbye ...

So, looking back, I know we did the best we could to make certain Red's last years were happy. Rest in Peace.

The old man was an interesting person. He was well traveled due to his time in the Army Air Corps (aka US Air Force), he was a 2nd generation Ariz native, he loved Arizona and he loved the construction industry. His legacy to me was a background which led to my career in the construction industry. He had his faults, but we all do. In the end he knew his faults and had corrected them. He did love his family. Vaya con Dios, Pop. Walter Lemon, III