Billy Lee joins his grandaughter Audris Fan at Rowland Adult School.

Billy Lee’s education ended when the Imperial Japanese Army overran Indonesia in March of 1942. The Diamond Bar resident was only 11 years old at the time.

Throughout the occupation, the young man worked hard to help his family survive. After the war, Lee got a job and settled down to raise two sons and a daughter.

“I always stressed the importance of education, because I wanted my children to live better lives,” the 82-year-old recalled.

On June 4, the octogenarian will receive his GED from Rowland Adult and Community Education. He will celebrate his academic success with his 21-year-old granddaughter Audris Fan, who is graduating from the University of San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.

“We didn’t even know he was studying for his high school diploma, he kept it a secret from the family,” said Fan, an alumni of Diamond Bar High.
So the proud Diamond Bar family will be celebrating two graduations this year, even though the graduates are separated by 61 years in age.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story GED.