William Lee Yarborough, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, 29 May 2022, at his home in Dumfries, Virginia, aged seventy-nine. He was born on 8 January 1943 in Staunton, Virginia, the second of three children born to Lieutenant General William Pelham Yarborough, U.S. Army, and Norma Mae Yarborough. His legacy is his love of people and his passion for helping others. He was a Soldier for life who lived the Army values and embodied the Army motto, "This We'll Defend."
Lee grew up an Army brat, living in numerous stateside and overseas locations including Austria, Pennsylvania, England, and Germany. He graduated high school from Bordentown Military Institute in Bordentown, New Jersey, in 1961 and enlisted in the U.S. Army the following year. In 1964, he graduated from officer candidate school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned in the Infantry. Lee served two tours in Vietnam, first from 1965 to 1966 with the 101st Airborne Division and again from 1968 to 1969 as a Green Beret with the 5th Special Forces Group. After returning from Vietnam he completed a Bachelor of Arts from Columbus College in Columbus, Georgia, and a Masters of Public Administration from the American University in Washington, DC, and graduated from the Army's Command and General Staff College. He also continued to serve in a variety of Army Reserve assignments with the Army Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, U.S. Atlantic Command, and the Selective Service System, until completing active reserve service in 1992. His decorations and qualifications include the Bronze Star Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, Senior Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Republic of Vietnam Jump Wings, the Philippine Parachutists Badge, and the Selective Service System Exceptional Service Award.
Lee's desire to serve came from a passion for helping others. After completing his military career he devoted himself to helping his community, the Army, and family. He believed in the ability of education to improve the lives of individuals. He worked with the Prince William County, Virginia, Chamber of Commerce to set up a business school partnership in the county to provide high school students with career mentorship and training with local businesses. He was also active in every neighborhood in which he lived–volunteering, establishing committees, and forging connections between neighbors and civic groups to ensure the welfare of his community. Lee was also active with numerous veterans groups and historical societies, including the Army Historical Foundation; the Special Forces Association; and the Army Counter Intelligence Corps Veterans association. Finally, he was a devoted son, loving husband, and dedicated father, and strove to maintain connections between often dispersed family members.
Lee is survived by his wife of thirty-three years, Ellen Billheimer Yarborough, who was his beloved companion and teammate in his many endeavors; his son, William Michael Yarborough, of Falls Church, Virginia; his step-daughters Jan Marie Ward and Sandra Lee Kauffman of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and Brunswick, Maine; three step-grandsons, Dr. Bryan Charles Ward, J. David Ward, and Peter Isaac Doucette; and one step-great granddaughter, Chloe Grace Ward; and many other family members, comrades, colleagues, neighbors, and friends.
Lee grew up an Army brat, living in numerous stateside and overseas locations including Austria, Pennsylvania, England, and Germany. He graduated high school from Bordentown Military Institute in Bordentown, New Jersey, in 1961 and enlisted in the U.S. Army the following year. In 1964, he graduated from officer candidate school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned in the Infantry. Lee served two tours in Vietnam, first from 1965 to 1966 with the 101st Airborne Division and again from 1968 to 1969 as a Green Beret with the 5th Special Forces Group. After returning from Vietnam he completed a Bachelor of Arts from Columbus College in Columbus, Georgia, and a Masters of Public Administration from the American University in Washington, DC, and graduated from the Army's Command and General Staff College. He also continued to serve in a variety of Army Reserve assignments with the Army Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, U.S. Atlantic Command, and the Selective Service System, until completing active reserve service in 1992. His decorations and qualifications include the Bronze Star Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, Senior Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Republic of Vietnam Jump Wings, the Philippine Parachutists Badge, and the Selective Service System Exceptional Service Award.
Lee's desire to serve came from a passion for helping others. After completing his military career he devoted himself to helping his community, the Army, and family. He believed in the ability of education to improve the lives of individuals. He worked with the Prince William County, Virginia, Chamber of Commerce to set up a business school partnership in the county to provide high school students with career mentorship and training with local businesses. He was also active in every neighborhood in which he lived–volunteering, establishing committees, and forging connections between neighbors and civic groups to ensure the welfare of his community. Lee was also active with numerous veterans groups and historical societies, including the Army Historical Foundation; the Special Forces Association; and the Army Counter Intelligence Corps Veterans association. Finally, he was a devoted son, loving husband, and dedicated father, and strove to maintain connections between often dispersed family members.
Lee is survived by his wife of thirty-three years, Ellen Billheimer Yarborough, who was his beloved companion and teammate in his many endeavors; his son, William Michael Yarborough, of Falls Church, Virginia; his step-daughters Jan Marie Ward and Sandra Lee Kauffman of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and Brunswick, Maine; three step-grandsons, Dr. Bryan Charles Ward, J. David Ward, and Peter Isaac Doucette; and one step-great granddaughter, Chloe Grace Ward; and many other family members, comrades, colleagues, neighbors, and friends.
William Lee Yarborough, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, 29 May 2022, at his home in Dumfries, Virginia, aged seventy-nine. He was born on 8 January 1943 in Staunton, Virginia, the second of three children born to Lieutenant General William Pelham Yarborough, U.S. Army, and Norma Mae Yarborough. His legacy is his love of people and his passion for helping others. He was a Soldier for life who lived the Army values and embodied the Army motto, "This We'll Defend."
Lee grew up an Army brat, living in numerous stateside and overseas locations including Austria, Pennsylvania, England, and Germany. He graduated high school from Bordentown Military Institute in Bordentown, New Jersey, in 1961 and enlisted in the U.S. Army the following year. In 1964, he graduated from officer candidate school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned in the Infantry. Lee served two tours in Vietnam, first from 1965 to 1966 with the 101st Airborne Division and again from 1968 to 1969 as a Green Beret with the 5th Special Forces Group. After returning from Vietnam he completed a Bachelor of Arts from Columbus College in Columbus, Georgia, and a Masters of Public Administration from the American University in Washington, DC, and graduated from the Army's Command and General Staff College. He also continued to serve in a variety of Army Reserve assignments with the Army Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, U.S. Atlantic Command, and the Selective Service System, until completing active reserve service in 1992. His decorations and qualifications include the Bronze Star Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, Senior Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Republic of Vietnam Jump Wings, the Philippine Parachutists Badge, and the Selective Service System Exceptional Service Award.
Lee's desire to serve came from a passion for helping others. After completing his military career he devoted himself to helping his community, the Army, and family. He believed in the ability of education to improve the lives of individuals. He worked with the Prince William County, Virginia, Chamber of Commerce to set up a business school partnership in the county to provide high school students with career mentorship and training with local businesses. He was also active in every neighborhood in which he lived–volunteering, establishing committees, and forging connections between neighbors and civic groups to ensure the welfare of his community. Lee was also active with numerous veterans groups and historical societies, including the Army Historical Foundation; the Special Forces Association; and the Army Counter Intelligence Corps Veterans association. Finally, he was a devoted son, loving husband, and dedicated father, and strove to maintain connections between often dispersed family members.
Lee is survived by his wife of thirty-three years, Ellen Billheimer Yarborough, who was his beloved companion and teammate in his many endeavors; his son, William Michael Yarborough, of Falls Church, Virginia; his step-daughters Jan Marie Ward and Sandra Lee Kauffman of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and Brunswick, Maine; three step-grandsons, Dr. Bryan Charles Ward, J. David Ward, and Peter Isaac Doucette; and one step-great granddaughter, Chloe Grace Ward; and many other family members, comrades, colleagues, neighbors, and friends.
Lee grew up an Army brat, living in numerous stateside and overseas locations including Austria, Pennsylvania, England, and Germany. He graduated high school from Bordentown Military Institute in Bordentown, New Jersey, in 1961 and enlisted in the U.S. Army the following year. In 1964, he graduated from officer candidate school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned in the Infantry. Lee served two tours in Vietnam, first from 1965 to 1966 with the 101st Airborne Division and again from 1968 to 1969 as a Green Beret with the 5th Special Forces Group. After returning from Vietnam he completed a Bachelor of Arts from Columbus College in Columbus, Georgia, and a Masters of Public Administration from the American University in Washington, DC, and graduated from the Army's Command and General Staff College. He also continued to serve in a variety of Army Reserve assignments with the Army Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, U.S. Atlantic Command, and the Selective Service System, until completing active reserve service in 1992. His decorations and qualifications include the Bronze Star Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, Senior Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Republic of Vietnam Jump Wings, the Philippine Parachutists Badge, and the Selective Service System Exceptional Service Award.
Lee's desire to serve came from a passion for helping others. After completing his military career he devoted himself to helping his community, the Army, and family. He believed in the ability of education to improve the lives of individuals. He worked with the Prince William County, Virginia, Chamber of Commerce to set up a business school partnership in the county to provide high school students with career mentorship and training with local businesses. He was also active in every neighborhood in which he lived–volunteering, establishing committees, and forging connections between neighbors and civic groups to ensure the welfare of his community. Lee was also active with numerous veterans groups and historical societies, including the Army Historical Foundation; the Special Forces Association; and the Army Counter Intelligence Corps Veterans association. Finally, he was a devoted son, loving husband, and dedicated father, and strove to maintain connections between often dispersed family members.
Lee is survived by his wife of thirty-three years, Ellen Billheimer Yarborough, who was his beloved companion and teammate in his many endeavors; his son, William Michael Yarborough, of Falls Church, Virginia; his step-daughters Jan Marie Ward and Sandra Lee Kauffman of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and Brunswick, Maine; three step-grandsons, Dr. Bryan Charles Ward, J. David Ward, and Peter Isaac Doucette; and one step-great granddaughter, Chloe Grace Ward; and many other family members, comrades, colleagues, neighbors, and friends.
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