William Alexander Lee

William Alexander Lee. age 85, of Monroe, NC, passed away peacefully on Tuesday July 19, 2022 while at his home surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born on Tuesday August 26, 1936 in Newport News, VA to Howard E Sr and Mildred Grace (Williams) Lee. He was married for 37 years to Janie Slack.

Bill Lee was born within site of the Newport News Shipyard and Dry-dock Company in Virginia.  He entered in the firms apprentice school in 1954. After completing the apprenticeship he attended college on a shipyard scholarship & received a degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University. After returning to the shipyard he qualified as a nuclear test engineer and participated in the initial nuclear refueling of the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise. In 1966 he joined a hand-picked team of designers and engineers engaged in the engineering design of the nuclear Propulsion plant for the USS Nimitz and nine of its sister ships. He considers his participation in the project to be his greatest achievement in his almost 30 years of shipbuilding.  In parallel with that effort he received an MBA from the college of William and Mary in 1973 and a professional engineers license in 1984.  He joined J A Jones construction company in Charlotte North Carolina and launched a second career in engineering and construction management activities associated with commercial nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons facilities. Retired since 1998 and living in the Union County community of Wesley Chapel.  Bill enjoyed researching and writing about ships shipbuilding and shipbuilders and has published hundreds of related articles about Ships, Builders and Sailors. It has been said he is one of most knowledgeable historian of the USS America.

Bill was predeceased by his mother and father and his brother Howard E Lee Jr. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Janie Lee, his nephews Howard Lee, David Lee and his wife Carol and Tim Lee, and a stepson Kevin Newman and his wife Nancy.

Services for Bill will be private and held at the convenience of his family.

Arrangements are by Life and Legacy Funerals and Cremations, 6525 Old Monroe Rd, Indian Trail, NC 28079.

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