Clarence Lee Trentman, 85, of Auburn passed away unexpectedly September 29, 2017, in Sacramento. He was born May 2, 1932, in Livingston, Montana, the only child of Clarence Joseph and Lee Vern (Cranwill) Trentman. He spent his formative years in Gardiner, Montana, at the north entrance of Yellowstone Park and had many fascinating and unusual experiences in his national park backyard.  He graduated valedictorian from Park County High School in 1950 and subsequently graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1955. He was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force and assigned to a Strategic Air Command in Mountain Home, Idaho, and later promoted to air attaché at the American embassy in Madrid, Spain, before receiving an honorable discharge in 1958.

Following his military service, Lee and his dad shared business ventures in southern California as co-owners of Balboa Rents (1958) and Canter Van and Storage (1959) before he founded Interstate Signal of San Diego (1962), a traffic supply company which he built from the ground up. On April 9, 1960, he married “the most beautiful girl in the world” and the love of his life, Wynefred Mae Bacon. They settled in San Diego where their children Loretta, Terry and Mike were born. 

A few years later, health issues in the family necessitated relocation to northern California, where Lee founded Interstate Sales of Auburn (1969) and T-man Traffic Supply of El Cajon (2012).  He was a self-described “guardrail salesman,” but during a career that spanned nearly 60 years he became a well-respected leader and an icon in the highway maintenance supply industry.

He had no plans for retirement and was actively involved in the day to day affairs of his businesses. For the last several years, however, he did allow himself plenty of time for travel, and he and Wyn spent many happy days on ships, planes, trains and cars visiting family and distant parts of the world or - in his ideal scenario - visiting interesting places with his family.
 

Lee will be remembered for his strong work ethic, honesty, integrity, generosity, compassion, keen intellect, business acumen, patriotism, trademark jump suits, crew cut, quick wit, and the unique way he expressed himself.  He was many good things, but first and foremost he was a family man; everything he did, in one way or another, was tied to his caring for and supporting his family. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather, and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
 

Survivors include his wife, Wyn Trentman, and three children, Loretta (Robert) Hay, Terry (Laralee) Trentman and Mike (Melodee) Trentman;  grandchildren Rachel Hay, Becca Hay, Chris Hay, Sarah Hay, Jenna Price, Megan Trentman, LeAnne Trentman, Jaron Trentman, Micah Trentman, Jackie Livingston, Chancey Trentman, Dallan Trentman, Lizi Trentman and Annie Trentman;  and great grandchildren Talya, Caden and Capri Price and Jayden, Jackson and Maxwell Livingston.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 6, 2017, 11AM at the Auburn Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1255 Bell Road, Auburn, CA.  Friends are welcome for visitation at 10AM. Interment will be at the New Auburn Cemetery.

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