Donald Wayne Lee, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and respected business leader, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2025.
Born in Coalgood, Kentucky on October 18, 1939, Don was the son of Bill and Leila “Shorty” Lee. In 1956, at the age of 16, he graduated from Tazewell High School in Virginia and went on to earn a degree in Accounting from Strayer University in Washington, D.C. In 1963, he passed the CPA exam in Virginia.
That same year, Don married the love of his life, Carol Ann Hineman, beginning a lifelong partnership filled with adventure, love, and shared accomplishments. Together they opened a private CPA firm and built a family, raising their children David (Carrie) Lee, Elizabeth Lee, and Robin (Frederick) Marx.
In 1968, Don expanded his entrepreneurial spirit by investing in Southern Office Supply in Arlington, VA. Over the next 20 years, he became sole owner and president, growing the company into the third largest office products dealer in the Washington, D.C. area—all while maintaining a prominent role in the banking industry. He joined Arlington Trust Company as an auditor in 1970 and eventually became Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Operations Officer of First American Bank, overseeing a staff of 700 before retiring in 1989.
Don’s passion for life was evident in everything he did. An avid golfer since age 20, he proudly notched a couple of holes-in-one over the years. He was also a member of the Exchange Club in Arlington, VA, Rotary Club in Vienna, VA, served as President of the American Heart Association in Arlington, VA, and volunteered as a guide for 15 years at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.
In 2001, Don and Carol moved to Annapolis, MD to enjoy life on the water. In 2021, they relocated to Colonial Heritage in Williamsburg, VA, continuing to enjoy an active and engaged life in retirement.
Don was a member of Williamsburg’s King of Glory Lutheran Church and is fondly remembered for his warmth, leadership, integrity, and love for family.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Carol; his three children; and his cherished grandchildren: Carson and Davis Lee, T.J., Ellee, and Sean Fitzgerald, and Harrison and Sebastian Marx; as well as his sisters, Betty Lee and Phyllis Gorman; and his brother, Richard Lee.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 4897 Longhill Road, Williamsburg, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jacob’s Ride or King of Glory Lutheran Church.
