Jack Donald “Donnie” Lee, 84, of Fincastle, passed away Sunday, November 1, 2020 at Virginia Veterans Care Center following a long illness.
Donnie was born in Fincastle on March 14, 1936 and lived in the area all of his life. He was the son of the late Carl Leo and Hallie Mae Thornhill Lee.
Donnie was a truck driver for 24 years before retiring as a shipping clerk with Scripture Truth after 23 years of service. He served with the United States Army as an MP guarding the first hydrogen bombs used in Operation Hardtack in the Pacific Proving Grounds at Enewetak Atoll. Donnie was a member of Daleville Baptist Church and enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, softball, and basketball. He was a true LB sports fan, following Cavalier sports until his illness.
In addition to his parents, Donnie was preceded in death by his brother, Carl L. Lee Jr., and his sister, Bonnie Oberg. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dianne Dooley Lee; daughters: Pam (Bill) Downie of Fincastle, Chrystal (Kyle) Bean of Roanoke, Teresa (Susan) Durrer-Lee of Roanoke; grandchildren: Meagan Downie Price, William Christopher Downie, and Olivia Reagan Bean; great-grandson, Carter William Ray Price; four fur grand-babies; brother, Larry Lee of Northern Virginia; sister, Shirley Davis of Fincastle; numerous loving nieces and nephews; special Army buddy and life-long friend, Virgil Lee Smith of Grafton, Ohio; and his dog, Ginger.
A service honoring Donnie’s life will be at 11a.m. Thursday November 5 at Daleville Baptist Church, 375 Orchard Drive, Daleville with the Rev. Wesley Belcher officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Pleasant Dale Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Rader Funeral Home, 630 Roanoke Road, Daleville. For those with concerns regarding COVID-19, social distancing, and out-of-town folks, the service will be livestreamed at https://www.rader-funeralhome.com/tributes/Jack-Lee.
Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fla., 17 Chicago, Ill. 60601; or to Virginia Veterans Care Center, c/o Veterans Services Foundation, James Monroe Building, 101 North 14th Street, 17th Floor, Richmond, 23219.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.
