Lee Allen Bilbrey, age 82, of Collinsville, IL, passed away on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at Broward Medical Health Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Lee was born on April 7, 1943, in Crossville, TN, a son of the late Lee Harless Bilbrey and Alta Olivia (Godsey) Bilbrey.
Lee was a Vietnam Veteran who proudly served in the 2nd Battalion, 7th Calvary Regiment as a machine gunner, where he fought bravely with his regiment in the Battle of Ia Drang Valley as a machine gunner. Before Vietnam, Lee was a machine gunner on a reconnaissance jeep patrolling the Berlin Wall as it was being built, keeping track of Russian movement. He was also an Army Airborne Ranger, who made numerous jumps and was awarded various medals including the Purple Heart.
Lee was a pipefitter/certified welder and became a Certified Welding Inspector per AWS Section VI. Early in his career he worked in the shipyards in Savannah, GA and Jacksonville, FL and was certified by Navy standards with all 18 series, aluminum and stainless categories. He was a member of Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville, IL and previously attended the Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis, MO serving on the Board for several years.
Lee married Barbara Fechte of Granite City, IL in Mascoutah, IL on December 17, 1988. Lee and Barbara enjoyed traveling together. Since retirement, they sailed on many cruises in the Caribbean and travelled to numerous destinations in the United States. Lee also enjoyed landscaping his yard, boating on the Mississippi, and watching the American Heros Channel, where he kept up to date on new military equipment and strategies. His greatest joy was meeting people and making new friends. Lee never met a stranger, and he was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He will be remembered as a caring and devoted husband and friend and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.
In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by his brother, Raymond Bilbrey and two sisters, Emily Whittaker, Harlene Hulsey, and his mother and father-in-law, Harry and Margaret Fechte, of Granite City, IL.
Lee is survived by his loving wife of thirty-six years, Barbara Bilbrey of Collinsville, IL; sister, Betty Blaylock of Crossville, TN; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Maryann and Joseph Schicker II of Glen Carbon; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
In celebration of his life, a visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville, IL. The funeral mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, with Father Michael Haag officiating. Interment will be in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Edwardsville, IL.
Memorial donations may be given to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church or Shrine of St. Joseph. Donations will be accepted at the church.
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.irwincahpel.com.
