Lee Rae was born in Oklahoma City to Dr. William and Rae Painter. Within months, her family moved to Brentwood, where Dr. Painter established the Brentwood Dental Building practice on Oak Street. Lee Rae graduated from Liberty Union High School in 1962 and attended the University of the Pacific. She moved to San Diego in 1969, and in 1975, went to work at Great American Bank, where she remained until 1992.
In 1983, Lee Rae met her soul mate and love of her life, Kenn Ulrich, who was vice president of public relations for the bank. They married two years later and lived a full life together, sharing a passion for travel in all corners of the United States, Japan, China, Tahiti, Canada and Europe. They even lived outside Venice, Italy for four months in 2004 while Kenn taught at a university.
Lee Rae was loved by everyone she knew and is remembered for her beautiful smile, compassion, and caring about friends in need. She was always available to lend a sympathetic ear, and in so doing, touched dozens and dozens of lives. For more than 50 years Lee Rae also was known as a highly accomplished seamstress; there wasn’t anything she couldn’t make or repair with her sewing machines.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 27 years, Kenn; brother, Bill, and sister-in-law, Valerie Painter of Phoenix; daughter, Shayne, and son-in-law, Randy; daughter, Jenna, and son-in-law, Martin; and four grandchildren. Donations may be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association.


