Shelby Rees Lee Jr. ’42

Shelby, grandson of James Lee Jr. 1853, died Dec. 30, 2005, in a hospice in Memphis.

He prepared at the Harvey School and Hotchkiss. At Princeton he majored in geology and received his commission in Army Field Artillery during the ROTC ceremony at our commencement. He served for three and a half years in World War II. He lost a brother, James '43, in the war.

Soon after his discharge as a first lieutenant, Shelby embarked upon a successful career as a self-employed real-estate manager. In 1950 he married Margaret Gunther. They had twins George and James, and Shelby and Harrison. Tragically, Harrison died in a highway accident caused by a propane carrier.

Upon Shelby's retirement after 50 years running his business, he and Margaret were free to enjoy their five grandchildren. He was a generous supporter of local charities.

Avid, multifaceted reader and staunch conservative that he was, Shelby openly shared with us his somewhat startling views on politics, the state of the nation, and Princeton in our Twenty Five Years Out and Fifty Years Later.

To Margaret, the surviving sons, and the grandchildren, the class conveys its deepest condolences.