Walter James ‘Jamie’ Lee III

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Walter James "Jamie" Lee III, 58, 130 Fort Lee Lane, Northern Cambria, died Sunday.

He was born in Philadelphia, son of the late Walter J. Jr. and Miriam (Boucher) Lee. He married Elizabeth M. Shaughnessey April 16, 1977, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Walter J. "Jay" Lee IV of Hershey; a daughter, 1st Lt. Suzanne (Lee) Sica, U.S. Army Medical Corps of State College, currently serving in South Korea; a brother, Robert E. of Duncansville; and a special friend, Donna J. Houck of Altoona.

Mr. Lee was the former executive vice president of W.S. Lee & Sons Inc., which he co-owned with his father and brother from 1970 to 2006. In his capacity as executive vice president, he was very instrumental in the growth and success of the company.

He was a member of Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and Christ's Second Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council.

Mr. Lee graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy in 1969, Valley Forge Junior College in 1971 and Robert Morris University with a bachelor of science degree in business administration and a minor in economics in 1975. He was a member of the U.S. Army National Guard, serving from 1975-82, where he received numerous service medals.

Mr. Lee was very active in the Boy Scouts of America, having earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1968. He served on the Philmont Training Staff in Cimarron, N.M., as a rock climbing instructor from 1970-72 and received the Philmont Staff Association Life Member designation as well as the Lutheran Scouters Association Life Member designation. He received SCUBA certification at the Florida National High Adventure Base.

He received awards, including the District Award of Merit, the Eagle Scout Knot, the God and Service Award, the International Scouter's Award, the Silver Beaver, the Explorer Leader's Key, the Scouter's Training Award, the Dan Beard Masonic Scout Award, the James E. West Fellowship Award and the 1910 Society Award. As an adult, he served as associate adviser to the North East Region Explorer Post at the World Jamboree in Holland in 1995 and worked on the International Service Team as logistics coordinator at the World Jamboree in Thailand in 2002. He served on the Penn's Woods Council Executive Board and the Blair County Senior Services Board of Directors.

In 2003, in conjunction with the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation, Mr. Lee founded The Scouting High Adventure Fund, The Scouting Cold Weather Survival Fund, The Scouting Emergency Preparedness Fund, The International Scouting Fund and the Boy Scout Program Support Fund. All original funding was provided by Mr. Lee, who oversaw the administration of the funds and the awarding of grants and scholarships to local Boy Scout councils and youth over a geographic area that includes Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Indiana and Somerset counties.

Mr. Lee was a member of Mountain Lodge 281, Free & Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, lifetime member of Jaffa Legion of Honor, Jaffa Shrine Mounted Patrol, Northern Cambria Shrine Club, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Kiwanis Club of Altoona, American Legion, Model Train Museum Association, Sons of the American Revolution, Railroaders Memorial Museum and the U.S. Cavalry Association. He was one of the original founders of the Allegheny Portage Railroad Computer Users Group and was an active supporter of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

He received his private pilot's license and was an AirLifeLine volunteer medical pilot.

Mr. Lee's management of the family-owned food service business and his involvement in numerous civic and charitable activities enabled him to travel the world extensively during the last 20 years.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 30, 2009, at The Stevens Mortuary Inc., 1421 Eighth Ave., Altoona (www.stevens mort uary.com). A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2009, at Stevens Memorial Chapel by the Rev. Hugh Gowan. Committal at Alto-Reste Park Cemetery.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Scouting High Adventure Promotion Fund, c/o Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation, 1330 11th Ave., Altoona, PA 16601; or 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Centers for Children, 1415 11th Ave., Altoona, PA 16601.