Richard H. Lee

Richard H. Lee passed away Saturday, June 23 2012 after a long illness. Mr. Lee was born at the Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio on July 19, 1928 to James Edward and Jessie Mae (Petty) Lee. In 1946, he graduated from Fairview-White High School and subsequently earned Bachelor Degrees in Liberal Arts and Education from The Ohio State University (1951) and later a Master of Science Degree in Education from the University of Toledo (1956). Mr. Lee began his over 40 years involvement in the education profession by accepting in 1951 a teaching position with the Maumee, Ohio school district where he began his teaching career as a High School English teacher as well as coaching football, baseball and basketball. He taught for seven years rising to the Head of the English Department and President of the Maumee Teachers' union MEA. In 1959 he and his family moved back to the Dayton area, accepting a job as an Education Specialist with the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at Wright-Patterson AFB He was employed with AFIT for over 33 years rising to the position of Registrar and Admissions Officer for the Institute prior to retiring in 1993. During this period Mr. Lee was also involved with his local township (Wayne) school board serving as a member for 13 years with several terms as both board president and vice president through a period of extraordinary growth. From 1976 to 1980 he was a member of the Montgomery County School Board, and also was selected as the President of the statewide Ohio School Board Association in 1980. During these years, he was a Charter Member and Elder of the Faith United Presbyterian Church as well as serving on and chairing many committees and ad hoc groups at the local, state, and national level. Mr. Lee became an officer in the State Association of College Admissions officers and Registrars. Upon retirement in 1993, he accepted a part time position as the Executive Secretary for the alumni organization of AFIT. In addition to this position Mr. Lee was active in the Fraternal Order of Masons activities as well a 32nd degree mason member of the Antioch Shrine. He continued his love for music by singing in several choirs in the Dayton area. Mr. Lee was predeceased by his parents and his oldest daughter, Susan K. (Focht). He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 61 years, Mary Jane (Fulks); his sons: Colonel Thomas A. Lee (USAF Ret.), and Timothy R. Lee; and daughter Jane E. (Risner); as well as 7 grandsons and 3 granddaughters. As a lifelong educator, Mr. Lee participated in the Anatomical Gift Program through the Boonschoft School of Medicine at Wright State University. Family will greet friends Saturday, July 7th from 2:00-4:00pm at the Routsong Funeral Home, 81 N. Main St., Centerville, Ohio. A memorial service will begin at 4:00pm also at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 ATTN: Development Office or by going to www.shrinershospitals.org. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.routsong.com.

Funeral Home:
Centerville Routsong Funeral Home
81 N. Main St.
Centerville, OH
US 45459