Paul William Lee, 83, of Melbourne, Arkansas, returned to his heavenly home on July 12, 2020. After a long illness, he left this world in peace. He was looking forward to being in the presence of our Lord and being reunited with the love of his life, Katherine Ann (Sellers) Lee.

He was the last living child of Henry S. and Grace (Buttstead) Lee. Born in Brattleboro, Vermont, on June 21, 1937, he and his six brothers and one sister lived and worked on the family farm in Guilford, Vermont. Paul graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1956 and immediately joined the United States Air Force. He lived a life of service and loved his God, Country, Family, Community, Church and many dear friends.

Paul retired from the Air Force in 1976 with twenty years of distinguished service, achieving the rank of Senior Master Sergeant ahead of his peers. He was called to serve around the world, including six months in Libya, 18 months in Turkey, and many of our beautiful states across this great country. He is a proud Vietnam Veteran and loved military aircraft, especially his beloved F-5. Following his military service, he relocated his family to Shaw, Mississippi, his wife's hometown. He worked at Baxter International and as a United States Postal Service mail carrier while completing a Business degree from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. He became a Production Manager at a leading tool manufacturer in Greenville, Mississippi, and certified as a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning technician before moving to Batesville, Arkansas, in 1985. While in Batesville, he became certified as a Real Estate Broker. However, Paul felt most fulfilled and blessed while serving our Armed Forces Veterans for fifteen years as a Veterans Service Representative, where he retired from the State of Arkansas in 1999. In preparation for their retirement, Paul and Katherine built their dream home in the beautiful and quiet community of Melbourne, Arkansas, where they spent the happiest years of their lives together and built many treasured friendships.

Paul was a man of strong faith and commitment to God. He served many years as a Deacon at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Batesville, Arkansas, then at Midway Baptist Church in Melbourne. He was so honored to be elected as a Chaplain at the American Legion Post 81, a Chaplain at the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4687, and as Chaplain of American Legion District 3.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Grace, and his six brothers, Erwin, Kenneth, Howard, David, Brian, Peter, and one sister, Judy. His beautiful wife, Katherine, whom he married November 1, 1959, has been waiting on his arrival in heaven since November 16, 2017. He leaves behind his three children: Terri Stampf (Frank) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Danny Lee (Heidi) of Jacksonville, Florida, and Patti Smith (Eric) of Melbourne, Arkansas, six grandchildren: Zachary Watkins (Caitlyn) of Morgan Hill, California, Benjamin Lee of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Rebecca Lee (Roberto Rosario) of Jacksonville, Florida, and Hunter Smith, Erica Smith and Bailey Smith all of Melbourne, Arkansas, one great-granddaughter: Olivia Lee Watkins of Morgan Hill, California, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation and funeral service will be held Thursday, July 16 at 10:00 a.m. at Eddie's Family Funeral in Melbourne, Arkansas, under the direction of Eddie's Family Funeral Home. Paul will be buried at Combs Cemetery in Melbourne.

Pallbearers: Bill Stevens, Richard Penn, Garry Barrows, Jimmy Booth, John Rogers, and Chris Newsom.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for Brockwell Gospel Music School, P.O. Box 28, Brockwell, AR 72577, https://www.brockwellgospelmusicschool.com/ .