Lee A. Box, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, veteran, and friend, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2026, in McAllen, Texas, at the age of 78.
Lee was born on July 22, 1948, in Bowling Green, Ohio, to Cleo Wesley Box and Evelyn (Mettert) Box. On August 17, 1968, he married Sharron K. (Turner) Box in Grand Rapids, Ohio. Together, Lee and Sharron shared nearly 58 years of marriage, building most of their life together in the Grand Rapids and Bowling Green area, where they raised their two daughters, Amy and Leesa.
Lee proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era and was stationed in Germany. His time in the Army was an important part of his life and something he remained deeply proud of throughout the years. He found friendship and camaraderie among his fellow veterans and was a member of the Alva N. Sidle American Legion Post 232 in Grand Rapids for more than 55 years. Lee was proud of his country and enjoyed serving his community, including taking part in holiday parades and other events where he could show his patriotism and honor those who served.
A hardworking man throughout his life, Lee worked at Campbell Soup and Johns Manville before retiring. Retirement, however, didn’t keep him from working for long. He later became a recess supervisor at Conneaut Elementary School in Bowling Green, a job he absolutely loved. Lee took great pride in looking out for the children and doing his part to keep them safe. During his time at Conneaut, he became affectionately known as “Papa Recess” by the students, a name that reflected the special place he held in their school days.
One of Lee’s many talents was hand-painting signs. Known throughout northwest Ohio for his hand-lettered work and extraordinary attention to detail, Lee’s signs became a familiar sight throughout the area. At one point, nearly every business in downtown Grand Rapids had a sign out front hand-painted by Lee A. Box. His craftsmanship left a unique and lasting mark on the community he called home for so many years.
Lee was an avid golfer and a member of the Bowling Green Country Club. He was also a member of the Grand Rapids Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed the opportunity to relax and socialize with friends and was a NASCAR fan who looked forward to watching the races on Sunday afternoons.
In 2020, after spending most of their lives in northwest Ohio, Lee and Sharron decided to begin a new chapter and head west. They spent some time in California before eventually finding the place that made them happiest in Southern Texas, where they settled and made a new home together.
Lee loved visiting with people and truly never met a stranger. He could strike up a conversation just about anywhere and enjoyed relaxing, socializing, and sharing stories with friends and neighbors.
Nothing made Lee prouder than his family. He loved capturing the moments, milestones, and accomplishments of his children and grandchildren through photographs. Even after moving to Texas, he continued keeping up with their lives from afar and proudly sharing their pictures, accomplishments, and stories with friends and family on Facebook. His pride in his family was never difficult to see.
Lee is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Sharron K. (Turner) Box; his daughters, Amy R. (Box) Bates and Leesa K. (Box) Chelminiak; his son-in-law, Peter Chelminiak; his grandchildren, Danielle Bates, Alexa (Winter) Matta and her husband, Carlos Matta, Kirsten Bates, Brandt Winter, Carter Borsos, Ava Bates, Kreu Lather, Julia Chelminiak, Renee Chelminiak, and Eddy Cruz; his great-granddaughters, Cleo Matta and Madalee Heckerman; his sister-in-law, Lynette Box; and his nieces, Janell Box and Tiffany (Box) Densic.
He was preceded in death by his father, Cleo Wesley Box; his mother, Evelyn (Mettert) Box; and his beloved brother, Larry C. Box, whom Lee always called “the best brother ever.”
To so many people throughout his life, Lee was a veteran, a coworker, a friend, a neighbor, an artist, or even “Papa Recess.” But to the family he was so incredibly proud of, he was simply “Papa.” It is in that role that he will be missed most of all, and the stories, photographs, traditions, and memories he leaves behind will keep Papa close to them for generations to come.
The Box family would like to thank All State Hospice and Village Healthcare for the kindness and compassionate care they provided to Lee. Those wishing to make a donation in Lee’s memory may do so to Allstate Hospice in Edinburg, Texas, or Alva N. Sidle American Legion Post 232 in Grand Rapids, Ohio.
Funeral services are being finalized. Details will be announced soon. Arrangements are entrusted to Dunn Funeral Home located in the Historical District of Bowling Green Ohio, located at 408 W. Wooster St.
