Mr. William E. Lee Sr.

ATTLEBORO – William (Bill) E. Lee Sr., 93, of Attleboro passed away on Thursday July 9, 2015 at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. He was the husband of the late Eleanor L. (Baker) Lee.

Born September 13, 1921 in Attleboro, MA he was the son of the late L. Paul Lee and Leah (Gingras) Lee.

Bill grew up and attended schools in Attleboro, and graduated from the trade school at Attleboro High School. He was stationed with the Coast Guard at the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland during World II. He was a silversmith by trade and developed his skills in the production of gold and sterling silver hollow-ware at several of the many factories in the Attleboro area. He opened and ran factories for the production of hollow-ware, initially in sterling silver and later in pewter, and eventually produced pewter figurines and commemorative items. His companies operated under the names of William E. Lee Silversmiths, Heirloom Pewter, and Heritage Pewter.

Bill loved the out-of-doors and enjoyed horseback riding, sailing, bicycling, tennis and skiing earlier in his life and later on learned SCUBA diving, and continued to enjoy hiking, bicycling, jogging, sailing and walking; and then long daily walks along Ft. Myers Beach in Florida during the winter months in his later years. He was one of the founders of Boy Scout Troop 47 at St. Mary Parish in North Attleboro and served as its first Scoutmaster in the late1950’s and early 1960’s.

Bill along with his wife Eleanor were members of the Chaminade Club in Attleboro and the Norton Singers for many years. He performed in the chorus and assisted with stage production for the many musicals and operettas presented by these clubs. They were avid square dancers and enjoyed that activity throughout their lives.

Since Eleanor’s death in 1991, he continued to enjoy square dancing during the winter months in Ft. Myers, Florida. It was through this activity that about 10 years ago he met Ms. Virginia Villeneuve, a native of Vermont who has become and has remained his dear friend and companion to the time of his death.

In addition to Virginia, he is survived by his brother Gerard P. Lee of South Attleboro, and his children William E. Lee, Jr. and his wife Sharon of Attleboro; Nancy and her husband Roy Wheeler of Pascoag, RI; Kathryn Lee Keeton of Virginia; Deborah and her husband Paul Normand of California; and Donna (Lee) Manzella of Dalton, MA. He was the proud grandfather of Thomas Keeton of Virginia, Katie Lee of Attleboro, Kevin Lee and his fiance Elizabeth Moss of Attleboro, Alex Wheeler of Rhode Island, and David and Christopher Manzella of Dalton.Bill was the brother of and pre-deceased by many siblings: Joseph Lee, Wilfred Lee, Agnes McClemmy, Beatrice Trepanier, Lorraine Mulligan, Stella Spooner, Mary Jane McAloon, Alice LaPalme, and Lucille King.

Bill also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and his great-grandchildren Ariel and Brianna Keeton, and Jenny Lee.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Monday, July 13, 2015 from 5 - 8pm in the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck St., Attleboro.

A funeral will be conducted on Tuesday, July 14th at 9am from the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. John the Evangelist Church, 133 North Main St., Attleboro. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, North Attleboro.

In lieu of flowers donations can made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 311 Arsenal St. Watertown, MA 02472 or at Alz.org, or the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.