Obituary of William Ware Lee

William W. (Bill) Lee, age 83, passed away peacefully December 22, 2021, at St. Vincent’s East Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife by his side. He was born in Magee, Mississippi, March 20, 1938. Bill had conquered multiple health challenges over the past several years. We know he is now with Jesus, whole and more alive than ever. Mr. Lee is survived by his wife of 51 years, Charlotte (Vaughn) Lee, three children: William W. Lee, Jr. (Angel) of Tunica, Mississippi; Sam Lee (Stephanie) of Knoxville, Tennessee; and Stephen Lee (Jennifer) of Pinson, Alabama. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Keaton Lee, Kirk Lee, and Erik Hammond of Ellisville, Mississippi; Brett Lee of Knoxville, Tennessee; Sydney Lee, Natalie Lee, and Matthew Lee of Pinson, Alabama; one great-granddaughter, Madilyn Rose Lee of Ellisville, Mississippi. Also surviving are his two brothers: Rick Lee (Shirley) of Ashville, Alabama; Jim Lee (Karen) of Semmes, Alabama; and a host of nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his mother, Nonie Ruth (Ware) Lee, who was killed in an automobile accident when he was six months old; his father, William D. Lee; step-mother, Kathryn (Glass) Lee; and baby sister, Tammy Eloise Lee. Bill joined the Alabama Army National Guard when he was 16 and entered active duty in the United States Army upon graduation from high school. He attained the rank of Sgt. First Class before retirement, 31 July, 1977. His military awards include the Bronze Star, the Air Metal two times, multiple meritorious service metals, multiple Vietnam service metals, and others. Most of his military career was in the field of aircraft (mechanic, inspector, and instructor). He was proud to be a member of a crew sent to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Ranch in Texas to repair a presidential service plane. He served three years in Germany, as well as various duty stations in the United States, including New York, Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Alabama. He served three tours in Vietnam, and was with one of the last units leaving Saigon in January 1973, when U.S. troops were pulled out. He then became a Platoon Sgt. in the 101st Airborne at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, after which he was reclassified and schooled in Signals Communications. He served the last three years of his military career as Shift Supervisor in the Pentagon Telecommunications Center, Washington, D.C. After military retirement, Bill moved his family to Pinson, Alabama. He worked in the records department at Pemco Aeroplex (formerly Hayes International), Birmingham, Alabama, for 19 years. He then worked in beverage machine repair at Royal Cup Coffee, Birmingham, Alabama, until retirement in June 2001. Being mechanically inclined, Bill’s hobbies included repairing washers and dryers – He loved bringing them back to life. Bill reminisced about delivering drugs for a pharmacy in West End on his bicycle as a young man before joining the National Guard. In addition to the many schools he completed during his military career, Bill was a graduate of West End High School and from Jefferson State Community College with an Associate Degree in Management and Supervision. As a member of Palmerdale United Methodist Church during the past 16 years, Bill has served on the Administrative Council and ministered through Meals on Wheels delivery, plus mailing birthday cards with daily devotionals to church members and attendees. He enjoyed playing dominoes with his friends at church on Thursdays. Bill was a Mason and a member of Farrah Lodge # 8 for 58 years, and a Shriner with Zamora Temple in Birmingham, Alabama, for 49 years. A Celebration of Life Service honoring Mr. Lee will be held at Palmerdale United Methodist Church, 7776 Alabama Highway 75, Pinson, Alabama, on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. Visitation will begin at 1:00 and service at 2:00. Rev. Tyler Cantrell officiating. Burial will follow in Remlap United Methodist Cemetery, 17259 Remlap Drive, Remlap, Alabama.