Equal parts family man and lawman, William Richard "Bill" Lee rose to the rank of Chief Deputy at the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, where he served with exceptional honor and distinction for the last 11 years of his nearly 38-year law enforcement career. Dated December 5, 2011, his retirement letter began with these eight simple words: "The time has come to make my departure." Following a brief illness and with his loving family by his side, Lee made his final departure on March 16, 2012. He was 60-years-old. Born in Miami on January 17, 1952, Bill was a man of high moral character who had a deep and abiding sense of public service and personal and professional ethics. He started his law enforcement career in 1974 at the Clewiston Police Department in South Florida. After that, he served with distinction at the North Miami Police Department, the Rock Springs, WY Police Department and then the Florida Department of Law Enforcement from August 2, 1982 until January 1, 2001. On July 6, 1989, while working on a Violent Street Crimes Task Force in Miami for FDLE, Bill was shot and injured in the pursuit of an armed robbery suspect. He recovered to return to duty at FDLE until proudly donning the Volusia County Sheriff's Office green on January 2, 2001. Bill retired from the Sheriff's Office on December 23, 2011 and was honored by the Volusia County Council on January 5, 2012 for his many years of dedicated service. Bill was a U.S. Army veteran with the 181st MP Co. between June 24, 2971-March 27, 1974 and also was a graduate of Nova University in Fort Lauderdale. He was a proud member of the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Volusia Police Chiefs Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police and also was an honorary staff member of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Bill also was a certified law enforcement instructor. In his free time, Bill was an avid hunter and fisherman. Bill Lee left an indelible mark everywhere he worked and was known to all as a man of great honesty, integrity, wisdom and compassion. His wise counsel, wit, warmth and indomitable spirit will be forever missed by all who knew and loved him. Bill is survived by his wife Nancy; children, Scott Lee, Kyle (Amy) Lee, Richard Shiver, Jr., Angela Horne; brother, Sam (Carolyn) Lee; and grandchildren, Lilly, Zachary, Colby, Natalie, Dale, and Adeline. Visitation will be Monday, March 19, 2012 from 6-8PM at Lankford Funeral Home, 220 East New York Ave., DeLand, FL with funeral services held at Stetson Baptist Church, Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 2:00PM. In lieu of flowers donations are requested to Halifax Hospice West Volusia Center, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129 in his memory.