Robert Lee Hoskinson

Robert “Lee” Hoskinson, age 80, was called home on the morning of Sunday, June 10.  He was surrounded by family as he made his peaceful transition.  Lee was born on February 11, 1938, the older of two children born in El Paso, Texas to Thomas Lee Hoskinson and Tommie Elvora Chastain. As a young child, his family moved to Southern California where his father worked as a sheet metal worker. On April 10, 1949, at the age of 11, Lee accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at the Evangelical Covenant Church in San Pedro, CA. From that day forward he committed his life to serving the Lord. During his teen and young adult years, he would often drive to the St. Paul Church Choir of Los Angeles to listen to the Echoes of Eden choir.  Gospel music remained a favorite of his all through his years. He graduated from Excelsior High School in 1955 and attended Fullerton Junior College from 1955-1957, then Long Beach State from 1957-1958, studying biology and business. In 1961, he proudly joined the United States Navy Reserve and served as a yeoman (YN2). In 1965, Lee began working as a salesman in the Men’s Department at Buffums’ Department Store in La Habra, CA.  Six months later, he became the manager of the Men’s Department and was transferred to the Buffums’ store in Long Beach.  His outstanding managerial skills were quickly recognized and one year later, he was transferred and promoted to the Lakewood Buffums’ as the acting store manager.  He married Sally Lee Benoit and together they had five children. In the years that followed, he went on to work for the Bon Marche in store manager positions in Eugene, OR, Federal Way, WA, and ultimately in Spokane. Later, he became the store manager for Lamonts and ended his career as an administrator at Holman Gardens and Lilac Plaza Retirement Communities. He sat on numerous boards over his career.   For more than 50 years he was active in all the churches he attended. He studied Greek and New Testament classes, led Sunday school for fifth grade students and later college students, led Bible study classes, and worked with children’s music ministries.  He later joined Morning Star Baptist Church in Spokane where he served as a deacon, active Sunday school teacher, and director of children’s music until 2001. Lee retired in 2001 and moved to El Paso, TX to care for his aging parents. He became a deacon, minister of music, and minister of Christian education at Mt. Zion Missionary Church from 2002-2008. In addition, he earned his real estate license in 2004. Also in 2004, he founded Manna Ministry. For two years, Lee, along with two friends, brought bread each Saturday to Mexican communities around El Paso and held Bible study classes in their homes. He also began working with Koinonia Institute as a teacher’s assistant with their online classes. From 2008-2010, he joined his dear pastor friend’s church, Horizon Bible, where he again served as a deacon and director of children’s music.  In 2010, Lee’s children convinced him it was time to move back to the Spokane area since his parents had previously passed on. He continued keeping active as a teaching assistant for Koinonia Institute, studying the Word, working in real estate, and enjoying time with his family. Dad was a man of great strength and wisdom…a true patriarch of our family. He loved the Lord, enjoyed studying the Scriptures and listening to gospel music, and preaching about God’s love and faithfulness until his final days. Dad also adored his family and friends.  He was an excellent cook, loved great food and fellowship, and had expertise in many areas. We will truly miss the wonderful conversations we had with him in which he gently guided and counseled us. We will always treasure the times we shared with him. We feel so blessed that we had such an amazing father who truly made a positive impact in our lives. He will be in our hearts forever. Lee is survived by his five children and their spouses, twelve grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Tommie Hoskinson and his sister, Toddye Lou Greenwalt. The family would like to express our sincere gratitude to the staff at Horizon Hospice, as well as a heartfelt thank you to Riplinger Funeral Home. Lee’s Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2018 @ 11:00 AM at Riplinger Funeral Home – 4305 N. Division, Spokane, WA, 99207.  A private interment will be held at Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA.