R. Cater Lee, 90, of Gulf Shores, died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011, at his home in Gulf Shores.
He was a proud World War II veteran, flying 31 missions as a member of the 448th Bomb Group, Second Air Division, of the Eighth Air Force in the European Theatre. He was a bombardier and navigator aboard the B-24 Liberator. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. He continued to serve in the Air Force Reserves during the Korean War, ending his service as a major in the Air Force.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sara Helen (McLarry) Lee; parents, Joseph Warren Lee and Mattie Mell (Wright) Lee; sister Martha Elizabeth Lee; brother Warren Wright Lee; and sister, Charlotte B. Lee.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda Lee Koniar (John), of Foley; and two sons, Robert W. Lee (Cheryl) of Gulf Shores and Thomas M. Lee (Sandra) of Gulf Shores.
Mr. Lee has eight grandchildren: John Todd Koniar, Robert Thomas Koniar, Mell Lee Koniar Davis, Martha Anne Lee Larson, Sara Elizabeth Lee Liles, David Ross Lee, Anna Frances Lee, Marcus Hendrix Tino and seven greatgrandchildren.
At the time of his death, Mr. Lee was chairman of the board of Vulcan Inc., in Foley. He was one of the founders of the company in Birmingham, Ala., in 1966, and was its first president, serving for 20 years.
Mr. Lee was a leader in his community, involved in many civic organizations. He was a past chairman of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, former member of the Gulf Shores City Council, served many years as chairman of the Gulf Shores Water Board, and was a recipient of the Free Enterprise Person of the Year Award.
Cater loved to play golf, and had a zest for competition. He shot his age several times, made quite a few holes in one, and was president of Gulf Shores Golf Club for many years.
He cherished his family — all four generations — and combined love for his family with enthusiasm for traveling by taking his family on numerous vacations in both the United States and Europe.
Arrangements are being handled by Pine Rest Funeral Home Inc., in Foley, where the family will receive friends from 5 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011. A graveside funeral service will be at Pine Rest Memorial Park at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug.17, 2011. The Rev. Robert Warren will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the Lee family has requested that memorial donations be made to The Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum, P.O. Box 1992, Savannah, GA 31402-1992.
