Robert Malone Lee passed peacefully on the morning of July 23rd, 2026.

Bob was born in Alpine, Texas in 1941, the oldest of three boys. His family later moved to St. Louis where he attended Normandy High School, and upon graduation he went to college at the University of Colorado - Boulder, and then Law School at the University of Missouri.

While at Mizzou he met Peggy, who was attending Stephens College, and following a successful blind date (he repeatedly claimed it was the only successful one in history) they would later wed in 1966, in Ft Worth, Texas. Bob reported to Quantico, Virginia for Basic Training and then OCS with the US Marine Corps just 6 weeks later. He chose the Marines for several reasons, one of which was that they did not, at the time of his enlistment, have a JAG Corps, which would guarantee that he would see combat and not be a military lawyer. By the time he had completed his combat tour the Marine Corps remedied this, and he then went on to serve in the Marine JAG at El Toro Naval Air Station.  Despite being very proud of his service and having experienced moments that could feature in books or movies, such as combat during the Tet Offensive, he was always reticent to discuss his experiences, except for when he would meet with students in History classes at St. Louis Community College.

Following honorable discharge, he and Peggy moved to St. Louis, where they would raise their family, including a never-ending parade of labradors. A believer that you have to keep moving if you are going to have fun, there is no family vacation that can't be improved by spending countless hours in the car, campgrounds beat hotels, and rest stop picnics are better than restaurants, the family traveled across the country for hiking, camping, fishing, and boating adventures.

Bob went to work as General Counsel for Commonwealth Life & Accident Insurance Company, and later became President of Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company, but the Marine ethic of always taking the next hill compelled him to leave that position and become the Associate General Counsel for Laclede Gas Corp. He would remain at Laclede for the rest of his professional life, rising to the position of Executive Vice President.

His real adventures began upon retirement, when he had the time to fully indulge his love of the outdoors, conservation, and community. Through the years he had been a leader in the regional Boy Scouts, on the Board of Boys Town of Missouri, and helped to start the annual St. Louis Art Fair. In retirement is where he focused more on conservation, helping to found Missourians for Monarchs (including turning their backyard deck into the area distribution center for milkweed every spring), and working through the classes to become a Master Naturalist with the State of Missouri. He loved being outside, whether it was standing in a trout stream, cutting invasive species out of parks, or building trails as he helped prepare Don Robinson State Park to be opened to the public.

It was in these retirement years that he also found the joy of indulging his grandchildren. Whether it was teaching them to fish, attending their sporting events, giving them dubious dating advice, or just sharing a bowl of ice cream, he loved being a Grandpa.

He spent the last week of his life surrounded by family and passed peacefully. He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Peggy, two sons (Rob & Chris), five grandchildren (Madeline, Danielle, Hayden, Hudson, & Hunter), two brothers (Louis Nelson, Donald), countless friends, and causes that are better for his efforts.

A life well lived, and stories we will always tell. We love you, Dad.

Semper Fi

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (MCSF.org) , Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, 909 N Washington St., Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314, Scholarship: TBS 3-67/OCC-41.

As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.