John
John Truman Lee
d. March 15, 2015
John Truman Lee died on March 15, 2015, at Lynchburg General Hospital with his family by his side. He was born to the late Robert Earnest Lee and Aida Lee in Doniphan, Missouri, on July 28, 1923.
He is survived by his devoted wife of sixty eight years, Marjorie Lopez Lee, and his children: Judy Lee Frantz and her husband, Dr. David Frantz, of Lynchburg, Barbara Ellen Lee and her husband, Clarence Glover, of Miami, Florida, and John Andrew Lee and his wife, Maria Theresa Bobiles Lee, of Singapore. In addition, John has four grandchildren: Kelly Frantz Gaputis, Mary Katherine Frantz, John Tristan Lee, Lauren Madison Lee and one great grandchild, Adeline Mae Gaputis.
John graduated from Doniphan High School in 1941. He served from 1943 to 1946 in the US Marine Corps. During World War II, he attained the rank of corporal and served in the Pacific Theater. John moved to Washington, D.C. in 1946, where he met his future wife, Marjorie.
John entered the auto industry in 1948. His career began at Pohanka Oldsmobile where he later became General Manager. In 1966, John and his family moved to Ann Arbor Michigan, where he founded Lee Oldsmobile Corporation which soon expanded to include Saab and Isuzu. During his tenure at Lee Oldsmobile Corporation, John was elected Director and then later President of the Michigan Chapter of the NADA (National Auto Dealers Association). He also received the Time Dealer of the Year award in 1989. After his retirement from the auto industry in 1996, he and Marjorie returned to Virginia.
During John and Marjorie’s tenure in the Washington, D.C. area, John was elected Master of the Washington Daylight number 14 Masonic Lodge in 1957. He was at that time the youngest Grand Master in the history of the Lodge. In Michigan, John continued to serve others through his community involvement. He was a board member of the United Way, Kiwanis Club, Washtenaw Community College and treasurer of the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce. He was also President of the Boy Scouts Council where his efforts earned him the Silver Bear Award. Governor Jim Blanchard and both houses of the Michigan legislature recognized John for his community service in 1989. After retirement, John served as the treasurer of the Carriage Square Homeowners Association in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Friends and family dearly loved John. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. John’s optimism and counsel guided his family through ninety-two years. We will all sorely miss him.
The family will receive friends at the home of Dr. and Mrs. David Frantz, Wednesday, March 18th from 5:30 – 7:00 pm.
Memorial donations may be made to the Stroobants Heart Center, c/o The Centra Foundation, 1920 Atherholt Road, Lynchburg, Virginia, 24501 or online at:
https://foundation.centrahealth.com/donations/make-an-online-gift
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424, to send condolences please go to www.obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com
He is survived by his devoted wife of sixty eight years, Marjorie Lopez Lee, and his children: Judy Lee Frantz and her husband, Dr. David Frantz, of Lynchburg, Barbara Ellen Lee and her husband, Clarence Glover, of Miami, Florida, and John Andrew Lee and his wife, Maria Theresa Bobiles Lee, of Singapore. In addition, John has four grandchildren: Kelly Frantz Gaputis, Mary Katherine Frantz, John Tristan Lee, Lauren Madison Lee and one great grandchild, Adeline Mae Gaputis.
John graduated from Doniphan High School in 1941. He served from 1943 to 1946 in the US Marine Corps. During World War II, he attained the rank of corporal and served in the Pacific Theater. John moved to Washington, D.C. in 1946, where he met his future wife, Marjorie.
John entered the auto industry in 1948. His career began at Pohanka Oldsmobile where he later became General Manager. In 1966, John and his family moved to Ann Arbor Michigan, where he founded Lee Oldsmobile Corporation which soon expanded to include Saab and Isuzu. During his tenure at Lee Oldsmobile Corporation, John was elected Director and then later President of the Michigan Chapter of the NADA (National Auto Dealers Association). He also received the Time Dealer of the Year award in 1989. After his retirement from the auto industry in 1996, he and Marjorie returned to Virginia.
During John and Marjorie’s tenure in the Washington, D.C. area, John was elected Master of the Washington Daylight number 14 Masonic Lodge in 1957. He was at that time the youngest Grand Master in the history of the Lodge. In Michigan, John continued to serve others through his community involvement. He was a board member of the United Way, Kiwanis Club, Washtenaw Community College and treasurer of the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce. He was also President of the Boy Scouts Council where his efforts earned him the Silver Bear Award. Governor Jim Blanchard and both houses of the Michigan legislature recognized John for his community service in 1989. After retirement, John served as the treasurer of the Carriage Square Homeowners Association in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Friends and family dearly loved John. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. John’s optimism and counsel guided his family through ninety-two years. We will all sorely miss him.
The family will receive friends at the home of Dr. and Mrs. David Frantz, Wednesday, March 18th from 5:30 – 7:00 pm.
Memorial donations may be made to the Stroobants Heart Center, c/o The Centra Foundation, 1920 Atherholt Road, Lynchburg, Virginia, 24501 or online at:
https://foundation.centrahealth.com/donations/make-an-online-gift
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424, to send condolences please go to www.obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Truman Lee, please visit our flower store.
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