James William Lee

Hospital Center following a brave fight with an aggressive lung cancer.

James (Jim) was born on March 6, 1942 in Franklin, Kentucky to Fountain Smith Lee and Nina Mae Rogers. He was raised in a farming family. As a teen in Louisville, he worked odd jobs to earn money. One of his exciting jobs was “hot walking” the horses where the Kentucky Derby is held. He also mowed huge lawns for rich people (for great tips) and bagged groceries for shoppers.

Jim enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served from 1/21/63 to 1/20/67 in campaigns like Panama and elsewhere and in Vietnam for 13 months. He completed his enlistment at the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, VA. Jim then served as a civilian for several Federal agencies until his retirement in 2010 from the Department of State, Foreign Service Institute.

Jim married Jewell Ann Pennington on April 10, 1976. Much time was spent with his new family (his new father-in-law was also a veteran and born in KY) and trips were made to Kentucky. Jim loved photography and video and used his computer skills to produce home movies, photo DVDs, and other visual art projects. He was fortunate to use these skills in many of his government jobs. Jim also loved taking family trips in the RV, including the challenges. Jim loved his family, and we loved him, especially his sense of humor and his talent for fixing a problem or making something better.

James is survived by his wife, Jewell; children, James William Lee II, Heather Christina Lee, and Jason Christopher Lee; sister, Cynthia Lee; daughters-in-law Elizabeth Lee and Alex Steiner Lee; brothers-in-law, Jess Pennington III and Phillip Zachary Pennington; grandchildren, Kalani Isabel Lee, Declan Carter Lee, and Cillian Adair Lee; and niece, Angela Lee.

James is preceded in death by his parents, Smith and Nina Mae; step-mother, Jo Ellen Lee; brothers, Doug, Edward, and Billy Lee; sister, Jane Lee; father-in-law, Jess Pennington, Jr.; mother-in-law, Cricelda Roxas Pennington; sister-in-law, Diana Lynn Pennington Kadi; and brother-in-law, David Kadi.

James’ family offers a special gratitude to the staff at the Virginia Hospital Center who cared for Jim from his admission on September 11, 2018 and admired his sense of humor throughout.