Walter Thomas Lee, Sr., 76, of New Haven, loving husband of 50 years to Catherine Anderson Lee, passed away on June 15, 2010. He was born in Franklin, VA on February 22, 1934 to the late George Mitchell and Virginia Council Rankins. Besides his wife, Walter leaves his children, Bruce Lee Trammell and his wife Janine of Branford, Karen Lee of New Haven, Walter Thomas Lee, Jr. of New Haven, Angela Lee of Hamden, Jeffrey Lee, Sr. and his wife Martha of New Haven, Virginia Spell and her husband Stacy of New Haven, Martina Turenne and her husband Yvon of Nanuet, NY, Rachel Walton and her husband Douglass of Patterson, NY, Alex Lee and his wife Celina of White Plains, NY, and Kelly Atkins and her husband Marc of Yonkers, NY; grandchildren, Bruce, Lauren, Candace, Kelsey, and Taylor Trammell, Jeffrey, Jr., Juliet, and Allison Lee, Evan, Ethan, and Emerson Turenne, and Coleman Lee; great aunt, Bernice Mabray of New Haven; daughter-in-law, Deborah Trammell of Naugatuck and a host of relatives. Predeceased by his granddaughter, Gabrielle Lee. Walter grew up and lived in New York City before moving to New Haven 45 years ago. He has been one of Jehovah's Witnesses for many years and worked for Detroit Steel in Hamden before his retirement. Walter was a member of the New Haven-Elm City Chess Club and a ranking member of the US Chess Federation where he partook in many chess tournaments. He also had a love for jazz, reading, and golf. More important than anything else, Walter was a family man and enjoyed every moment spent with his wife, children, and grandchildren. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 19th at 10 a.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1123 Ella T Grasso Boulevard, New Haven. Friends may visit with Walter's family on Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 06518.