Bill J. Lee

Bill J. Lee, 83 of Kingsport, peacefully passed away at his residence on July 6, 2015. He was born in Church Hill to Joe Vance and Cora Messick Lee. Bill graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School in 1950 as Vice President of the National Honor Society and lettered in basketball and baseball his junior and senior years. In those years he was also selected as a Big Five All Conference Player in both sports.

Upon graduating from East Tennessee State College, he served two years in the Army at the Pentagon in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff - Intelligence. After his military service he received his MBA degree and CPA as a benefit of the G.I. Bill. During the next 25 years he worked in several positions as an accountant, internal auditor, systems analyst, company treasurer and a member on several Boards of Directors. It was after these years of business experience that Bill discovered his real love - teaching. He taught at ETSU as an assistant professor. After 22 years of collegiate teaching he retired (twice) as an Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia at Wise.

Bill's civic and community presence was well known. He served as a President of Contact Concern and drove Meals on Wheels routes at 81 years of age. Bill was, as many of you know, a consistent contributor to the Kingsport Times News editorial page. His heart was closely associated with education and athletics at DBHS, ETSU and UVA at Wise. He was the DB Educational Foundation Treasurer and participated on the committee that raised funds for the Field House and Alumni Hall. He served the DBHS Alumni Association as President and continued on as a member of the Board of Directors. He was honored by the organization as a member of the Hall of Fame. Also he served as Treasurer of the first group of citizens seeking the return of ETSU Buccaneer football program. At UVA-Wise he was Chair of the Department of Business & Economics, Ombudsman for the university, visiting professor to colleges and financial institutions in Beijing and invited to the NYSE by the chairman of the Exchange & Senior Office.

No one confused Bill with another person. He was a master storyteller and his humor and one-liners were legendary. A cunning straight man to all of us. He was a knowledgeable sports fan on all levels - high school, collegiate and professional for football, basketball and baseball. He saw Ted Williams in Fenway and had his eye on Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals. He played full court basketball with his students, grandchildren and young adults until he was 73 year old. He was an athlete for 81 of his 83 years.

He was preceded in death by wife of 56 years, Mary Jane; his young son, Joseph Brian; older siblings, brothers, A.V., Doug and Bob Lee, and sister, Margaret Smith of Rogersville.

Surviving him are his children and their spouses, Barbara and Jim Hackett, David and Rosemary Lee, and Jenny Lee Shaffer; his five grandchildren, Wes Shaffer, Salem Shaffer, Gabe Hackett, Joe Hackett, and Abby Lee and Richard Russell; his beloved sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Judy and Tommy Weatherford; his older sister, Evelyn Hunt; and many nephews and nieces, including an exceptional bond with his niece, Sandy Davis Fontaine.

Visitation with the family will be on Saturday, July 18, 2015 from 1-3:00 pm at Indian Springs Baptist Church at the Hill Road location. The service will immediately follow with Dr. Roc Collins and Dr. Barry Walton officiating.

Graveside services will be Sunday, July 19, 2015 at 1:00 pm at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be David Lee, Wes Shaffer, Gabe Hackett, Joe Hackett, Jim Hackett and Richard Russell.

Donations may be made to Indian Springs Baptist Church, 325 Hill Rd., Kingsport, TN 37664, or to the UVa-Wise Foundation, 1 College Ave., Wise, VA 24293.

This entry from Dad's journal speaks of his heart,

"Glorify God
Worship Jesus
Obey the Holy Spirit
Serve your fellow man
and Remember Mary"

Bill Lee
2010

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