Brian Lee

Brian was born on February 16, 1946 in Marietta, Georgia to Zacharie and Mary Lee. Due to his dad’s military service, the Lee family was regularly on the move throughout his childhood. Brian had very fond memories of his “idyllic” days growing up in the south. From his early years in Georgia to his elementary school years in France, then onto South Carolina and eventually to the great state of Texas where he spent the rest of his life, Brian learned how to get along and connect with all kinds of people.

After graduating from Cole High School in San Antonio in 1965, he enlisted in the Marine Corps to join the Vietnam War. He was quickly deployed and spent the next 18 months on the ground in Vietnam. Like so many other brave men who volunteered to fight in that war, he came back to the states a very different man. Soon after returning he was honorably discharged and transitioned back to civilian life. Despite the mental, emotional, and physical effects from his time in active duty, the Marine Corps continued to hold a special place in his mind and heart throughout the remainder of his life.

For those that knew E. Brian Lee, all are in agreement that the single most impressive and important accomplishment of his 77 years was to somehow convince a girl named Carolyn Sue Welch to date and eventually marry him. They met at the officers club in Fort Sam Houston on February 11, 1972. And, while it may not have been love at first sight for either of them, things changed quickly because within a few short months they were standing next to each other at the altar pledging to love one another until death parted them. They built a life and family together in New Braunfels, Texas, and they kept that promise to God and each other for over 51 years.

Brian loved to talk to anyone and everyone who was willing to listen. He used to say, “ask me what time it is, and I’ll tell you how to build a watch.” He had a passion for guns and old cars. He was very handy and had an abundance of natural mechanical aptitude. Whether it was managing the countertop business he owned or restoring countless old cars over the years, he loved to build new things as well as fix what was broken. There is no doubt that Brian could be stubborn and difficult at times. He was the first to acknowledge that, even if it didn’t make sense, he liked to do things “his way.” But at the end of the day he loved his family and, after battling for his life for many years, he peacefully breathed his last breath on earth while surrounded by the family he so dearly loved.

Brian is survived by his wife Sue, his daughter Dawn and her husband Mark Williams, his son Brian and his wife Steph, his five grandchildren Madyson (19), Jada (16) , Kiva (13), Judson (12), and Kason (9), his sister Lynn Meiers, his niece Cindy Meiers and his nephew Rich Meiers. He is preceded in death by his parents Zacharie and Mary.

The visitation will be from 5:00-9:00 pm on Thursday, August 17 at Zoeller Funeral Home in New Braunfels, Texas. The funeral service will take place at 9:00 am on Friday, August 18 at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, financial contributions in memory of E Brian Lee can be made to Hope Hospice or The Wounded Warriors Project.