Lee R. Pitzer, Colonel, USAF (retired), age 85, of O'Fallon, Ill., former Air Force officer and corporate financial executive, born August 31, 1933 in Rochester, N.Y., passed away Saturday, January 26, 2019, at his home in O'Fallon, Ill.

Lee was 85 years old and had been blessed with a full and complete life. His growing up was nomadic but in 1946, the family settled down in Affton, Mo., where he graduated high school in 1951. He hitch-hiked to California at age 15 to see the world and again the following summer, to Phoenix, Ariz., where he joined the National Guard. Lee graduated from the University of Missouri in June 1955, then married his high school sweetheart Peggy (nee Leonard) on August 6, 1955, in Affton, Mo. He reported for Air Force navigator training at Ellington AFB, Tex. A year later, he was assigned to Okinawa Air Base as a transport aircraft navigator. Colonel Pitzer left the Air Force in 1958, and for the next 18 months, he worked for three large US corporations, IBM, Dun and Bradstreet, and Colgate Palmolive. In 1959, he chose to return to active duty in the Air Force, as there was a navigator shortage. He did so happily as he realized he enjoyed and missed military service. Lee was subsequently assigned to Charleston AFB, S.C. Lee and Peggy had by then been joined by sons Rahn, born on Okinawa in a Quonset hut, and Kurt, born while Lee was on a mission to Panama. In 1962, after being the navigator on Air Force missions all over the world, Lee went to the US Army's parachute training school at Ft. Benning, Ga., prior to his reassignment requiring parachute duty at McChord AFB, Wash. After completing the parachute course, Lee became Officer in Charge of a special operations Combat Control Team (CCT) at McChord AFB, Wash. That summer daughter Pamela joined the Pitzers. Subsequent assignments were CCT and Aerial Delivery Staff Officer with Headquarters Military Airlift Command (MAC), Scott AFB, Ill. and 2nd Aerial Port Group in the Republic of Vietnam before attending the Army's Command and Staff Course at Ft. Leavenworth, Kans. Following the Command and Staff Course, Lee was assigned to duty at Travis AFB, Calif., Langley AFB, Va., Little Rock AFB, Ark., and Clark AB, Philippines. In those last three assignments he was commander of Aerial Port Squadrons. In late 1979 Lee was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Transportation, Headquarters MAC, Scott AFB before retiring April 1982. During his military service, Colonel Pitzer was awarded various decorations, medals, badges, and campaign ribbons, including the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Vietnam service medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Presidential Unit Citation, and small arms expert marksmanship. In civilian life, after 2 years with First Bank in O'Fallon, Lee joined Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. in St. Louis as an investment broker and financial consultant. Fifteen years later, he retired as Assistant Vice President. In the following years, he played golf, Texas Hold 'em poker, and bridge. For many years, he raised thoroughbred race horses for sale and to race. Since 1979, the Pitzers have lived in east O'Fallon on five acres with a barn and several horses. He was a  prolific writer of Letters To The Editor of this newspaper, the Belleville News-Democrat. His "letters" were on diverse subjects, but mainly concerned military history and strategy and current political issues.

Colonel Pitzer was a member of American Legion Post #137 in O'Fallon. He and his wife enjoyed many cruises together after his retirement. Lee had two very dear friends he was especially close to, Col. Dino Evgenides and Glenn Parsons. He also enjoyed the weekly "get-together" at Denny's with several BN-D letter-writers and their "wild" discussions.

Surviving are his wife Peggy, nee Leonard, Pitzer; son Rahn (Vickie) Pitzer of Ithaca, N.Y. and Scottsdale, Ariz. and their children Cody, Courtney (Bryan) Hutches, and Amanda Pitzer; son Kurt Pitzer of Thailand; daughter Pamela (Michael) McCarthy of O'Fallon, and their children Meghan and Matthew.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to American Legion Post 137 or Wounded Warriors and may be mailed to the funeral home.

According to Lee's wishes, private services will be held.