David Carlisle Lee Sr., husband of the late Thelma Ballentine Lee, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014, at the age of 92 in the Cottingham House of Hospice of the Foothills. The family will receive friends Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the St. Mark United Methodist Church in Seneca. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. at the church with Rev. David Surrett & Rev. Jeff Childress officiating. Burial will follow in the Oconee Memorial Park with full military honors. David was born Oct. 10, 1922, in the Armenia Community of Chester County to the late James Chalmers and JoAnna Grant Lee. He was the eldest member of the descendants of James Griffin and Emma Hudson Lee of the Armenia Community. He graduated from Whitmire High School and entered Clemson A&M College as a member of the Class of 1944. In 1943, his college career was interrupted by service in World War II. On Christmas Eve of 1944, the 262 Infantry 66th Division was crossing the English Channel heading to Cherbourg, France, as 2,235 reinforcements for the Battle of the Bridge. Their transport ship, SS Leopoldville, was torpedoed by the U-486 and subsequently sank with over 765 fatalities. David survived the catastrophe by jumping from the Leopoldville to the British frigate, Brilliant, that attempted to rescue the American soldiers. During his remaining time in service, he served in the European-African Middle Eastern Theater, and was awarded the Bronze Star for Southern France Campaign. After serving his country, David returned to Clemson College and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Engineering. He remained a life long Tiger fan and supporter of the Alumni Association. David began his career in the textile industry with J.P. Stevens. He worked in several positions and retired as a General Manager of the Sheeting and Bedding Division. He was known for arriving early to hear the third shift supervisors' reports and did not leave until the second shift was well underway. Being a devoted member of St. Mark UMC in Seneca, David served in many capacities over the years. He especially enjoyed the years he and Thelma were MYF Counselors, Family Night dinners, Wednesday morning Bible study and participating in his Sunday School classes. He was known throughout his life as being an honorable, just and kind Christian gentleman with a sly sense of humor. He was generous with his time, love and resources and thought the sun rose and set in his grandchildren. David pursued many hobbies and with the support and supervision of his wife, grew prize-winning roses. They frequently supplied arrangements for family, friends, weddings the church altar, his favorite banker and many others. David became a certified Rosarian and enjoyed the numerous friends he made through this common interest.
 After his retirement, David's interest turned to growing camellias and sansanquas. He spent many Tuesday mornings volunteering at the S.C. Botanical Gardens at Clemson, working with the camellias. Under the tutelage of the horticulture staff, he successfully hybridized two new camellias and named them after his wife and daughter. In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by his cherished wife Thelma, to whom he was married for 64 years, and by his beloved son, David Carlisle Lee Jr. of Atlanta. He was also preceded by his brothers, J.C. Lee Jr. of Chester and William Joseph Lee of Clinton; and sisters, Dorothy Lee Walker Bennett of Canoga Park, Calif. and Ruby Lee Cherry of Chattanooga, Tenn. Surviving are a daughter and her husband, Anita Lee and Vernon Bowen; grandchildren, Samuel Kirkland Bowen III of Charleston, David Carlisle Lee III of Palo Alto, Calif., Martha Bellentine Lee of Charleston and Catherine Elizabeth Lee of Columbia, Mo.; also Kay Lee and Gary Brown of Covington, Ga.; 12 nieces and nephews; and their 20 children and grandchildren. The family wishes to thank the many friends who have been generous with their love and kindnesses, especially the dearest friend Joan Chittenden, "The Flower Girls" (Caring Ministry Team at St. Mark UMC), the staff and friends at the Residences at Park Place and the dedicated staff at the Cottingham House at Hospice of the Foothills. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mark UMC, 616 Quincy Road, Seneca, SC 29678; or Hospice of the Foothillls Foundation, 298 Memorial Drive, Seneca, SC 29672. Brown-Oglesby Funeral Home of Seneca is assisting the family with arrangements.