Family Log-In

Click Here

Upon receipt of his final set of relocation orders, Chaplain Kenneth R. “Kenny“ Lee moved home with Jesus on September 5, 2015. A faithful servant of his God and Savior, a deeply loving and wise husband, father, grandfather, son and brother, Kenny is remembered by all who knew him as a consummate witness for Jesus, a guiding force in bringing children of all ages into his heavenly Father’s flock, a stalwart friend, confidante, and a talented musician, who – with his equally talented family – routinely celebrated his faith in song. “Chaps” will be greatly missed by friends from all over the world, including his beloved troops.
Chaplain Kenneth R. Lee was born in Orlando, Florida on 17 November 1962, the son of Dan and Rita Vallier. He married the love of his life, the former Sheryl D. Green of Columbus, Georgia, on 23 October 1982, and they have made their home across the world and back, and raising their three children in an abiding Christian faith.
In 1983, he enlisted in the Army as a Chaplain’s Assistant, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant before completing his nine years of active duty service in 1992. His assignments included tours at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center at Aurora, Colorado, and Torii Station Chapel at Okinawa, Japan; before serving at Fort Benning Main Post Chapel and Staff Chaplain’s Office at Columbus, Georgia, where from 1991-92, he also served as Youth Director for the Main Post Chapel. While on active duty, Chaplain Lee graduated in 1990, from Columbus University, Columbus, Georgia, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance.
Licensed to the ministry in 1993, Chaplain Lee was ordained in 1994 within the Southern Baptist Convention, at Edgewood Baptist Church, Columbus, Georgia, where he served as Director of Single Adult Miniseries from 1991-94. He then served as Business Administrator / Associate Pastor, for Celebration Church, New Orleans, Louisiana, until 1999. Graduating in 1998 with his Masters of Divinity, from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, Louisiana, he served in unpaid capacity at Metairie Baptist Church, Metairie, Louisiana, fulfilling requirements for two years ministerial experience prior to commissioning as a Navy Chaplain.
Commissioned on 20 August 2001, as a Lieutenant (j.g.) with an appointment as a Navy Chaplain, Chaplain Lee reported to active duty the same month to the U.S. Naval Chaplain School, Newport, Rhode Island.
In December 2001, Chaplain Lee reported as Battalion Chaplain, for 1st Battalion 3rd Marines. He deployed to Okinawa in 2002, with exercises in South Korea, Thailand, Japan, and elsewhere, and promoted to Lieutenant on 01 September 2002. His second deployment was in 2004, as Battalion Landing Team 1/3 Chaplain, with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. His battalion encountered intense combat during OPERATON PHANTOM FURY’s liberation of Fallujah, Iraq, during which he earned his Combat Action Ribbon and for a lengthy period he also served as the acting 31st MEU chaplain.
Chaplain Lee reported to the Naval Security Group Activity Sugar Grove, in July 2005, as Command Chaplain for the semi-remote duty station located in West Virginia. In addition to providing Sunday and other chapel services, Chaplain Lee developed a vibrant retreat and seminar program in support of single and married personnel, and earned numerous awards including the Chief of Naval Operations “Bainbridge Award.”
In July 2008, Chaplain Lee reported for overseas assignment, as Command Chaplain for Military Sealift Command Singapore. During this assignment he heavily deployed as the sole chaplain for the Merchant Marine and Navy sailors operating more than a dozen naval supply ships throughout the Far East. He promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 01 September 2009. Following the 2011 tsunami and resulting nuclear reactor meltdown, Chaplain Lee was aboard the MSC ships operating off Fukushima, Japan, as the vanguard of the Navy’s relief operations.
Selected for the Chaplain Corps’ post-graduate education program, Chaplain Lee reported in August 2011, to Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) with follow-on orders there upon completion of his Pastoral Care Residency (PCR) Program. Achieving four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), he became eligible for board certification as a chaplain, however having been was diagnosed with Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA) Chaplain Lee was medically retired from naval service on 19 March 2013.
In addition to Chaplain Lee’s wife, Sheryl, he is survived by their daughter, Ashley Lee Crawford-Suhs and husband, Hans; their sons, Seth Lee, and Kelly Lee and wife, Alyie Penn Lee; and their only grandchild Analora Grace Suhs. Kenny is also survived by his parents Dan and Rita Vallier of Orlando, FL; sister, Lisa Lee, brother, Rick Vallier; sister, Victoria V. Giordano; father-in-law, CAPT John M. Box, MC, USN (Ret); mom-in-love Pat H. Box “Meme”; and numerous family and friends.
Interment with military honors will be held on Friday, September 11, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., in the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, Black Mountain, NC, with Chaplain Vinson W. Miller, CDR, USN, officiating. Pallbearers are: Mr. Scott Darnell; MSgt Robert Holmes, USMC; Jesse Winkels, Hans Crawford-Suhs, Mr. Ray Mata; and Mr. Lee Robinson.
All are welcome to the celebration of life memorial service scheduled on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at Mountain View Church, 2221 N Fork-Right Fork Road, Black Mountain, NC beginning at 2:00 pm, with Pastor Brent Bolick presiding.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in memory of Kenny be made online at www.multiplesystematrophy.org or mailed to: Multiple Systems Atrophy Coalition, 9935-D Rea Rd #212, Charlotte, NC 28277.

“GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME!”

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of LCDR Kenneth R. Lee, CHC, USN (Retired), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.