Ocala, Florida - William Hans Lee (Bill), 98 of Ocala FL, passed away March 8, 2025. He was born July 2, 1926 in Eau Claire WI, the son of Anton & Ella Lee.

Bill attended Eau Claire High School and graduated in 1943. He was awarded the Eagle Scout Award in 1943. Bill enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1944 and served as Private First Class with the Squadron N 2502nd AAF Base Unit in 1945 until the end of WWII. He was on reserve duty until he was honorably discharged November 1948. Bill attended the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1949 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Bill met his future wife Ann Lorraine Aasve at a college dance and they married June 18, 1949.

Bill joined the General Electric Company where he worked for 40 years as an electrical engineer. His career took him to Erie, PA; Schenectady NY; Salem VA; and Johannesburg, South Africa. Highlights from his career included working on electric drive systems for the US Navy Submarine Program and for Commercial Steel Plants in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Nebraska. His final project with General Electric was management and design of a steel bar mill in South Africa. Bill was a smart, resourceful and important engineer who worked on large and powerful projects around the world.

In Schenectady, NY Bill & Ann and their children were active in skiing at Hickory Hill and in competitive sailing at the Saratoga Lake Sailing Club where Bill served as Commodore in 1970. Bill & Ann won the Jet 14 Atlantic Coast Sailing Championship in 1970 and took third place in the Jet 14 Sailing Nationals in 1971. Bill & Ann continued their sailing prowess by taking the family on a trip aboard a 34-foot yacht, sailing around the British Virgin Islands.

After moving to Roanoke, VA, Bill & Ann continued sailing with the Virginia Inland Sailing Association at Smith Mountain Lake. They also enjoyed ski trips to Colorado, the Swiss Alps and France, as well as more sailing trips with friends around the British Virgin Islands.

After retirement, Bill & Ann moved to a home on Lake St. George in Fairfield Glade, TN. During this time Bill & Ann traveled the world and were always looking for adventure. Bill & Ann traveled to all seven continents and visited over 50 countries. In Fairfield Glade they were active in bridge and social groups, and Bill liked to golf and sail his radio controlled sailboat. Bill was a member of the "Divot Dogs" mens golf group and the Fairfield Glade Yacht Club — Model Mariner's Club.

Bill moved from Lake St. George in 2019 to a cottage at Good Samaritans and then to the Good Samaritans Assisted Living Center in Fairfield Glade, TN. In late 2023, Bill moved to the Bridgewater Park Assisted Living Center in Ocala, FL to be near his daughter.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Ann, married 63 years; his parents, Anton & Ella Vold Lee; and his brothers, Robert Lee and Thomas Lee. Left to cherish his memory are his sons, Bruce (Cathy) Lee and Wayne Lee; his daughter, Cindy (Rob) Terry; his grandchildren, Rachel (Garrett) Akie and Mark Terry; and step grandchildren, Abi Powless, Tony Powless & AJ Powless.

There will be a short service at the Columbarium of the Fairfield Glade Community Church, 521 Snead Drive, in Fairfield Glade Saturday, May 31 at noon. Friends are welcome to attend.