Lee Baylis, a retired manager with the U.S. Department of Defense, died in Santa Maria, California on March 4, 2025. He was 79.

Lee was born in Norfolk, Virginia on August 7, 1945, to Elias and Anna (Van Wormer Robinson) Baylis. He was the second of two sons and, at age 7, relocated with his parents and brother to California living in Fontana and Vallejo.

Lee joined the Air Force in 1964 and was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB) for four years. After leaving the Air Force, he spent several years in the aerospace industry working for the Northrop (now Northrop Grumman) and Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin) Corporations in Southern California. During this time, he attended the Northrop Institute of Technology receiving his Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Lee moved back to Santa Maria and continued his education at Allan Hancock College where he earned his Associate of Arts Degree in Computer Science. Lee returned to Vandenberg AFB to begin his civil service career. He worked both in the Sheet Metal Shop and the Scheduling Office where his responsibilities included scheduling all launches and tests from Vandenberg AFB. Lee rose to be a supervisor in both areas and retired in 2001 after 30 years of service with the Department of Defense.

Lee was a member of Santa Maria Elks Lodge 1538 where he recently received his 50-year lifetime membership. Lee enjoyed serving on one of the barbecue teams and as a waiter at bingo.

In retirement Lee enjoyed traveling, golf, and volunteering his time toward causes that were important to him including the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society and St. Andrew United Methodist Church.

Lee was a devoted husband to Sharon (Tuttle) Baylis, with whom he shared 60 years of marriage. He loved spending time with his family, his many fur babies, and traveling the world with Sharon. While their travel adventures took them far and wide, a couple of his favorite locations were much closer to home, Yosemite National Park and Disneyland.

Lee was a proud father of three children, grandfather to six grandchildren, and great-grandfather to two great-grandchildren.

Lee was preceded in death by his older brother Thomas Baylis.

Lee is survived by his wife Sharon; children Dennis, Shannon and her husband Taeve, and Scott; grandchildren Allison and her husband Dave, Freya and her husband Carlos, Alexa, Josef, Derek, and Laura; great-grandchildren Sebastian and Olivia; sister-in-law Patti, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of Lee’s life will be held at St. Andrew United Methodist Church on April 5, 2025, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lee’s honor to the St. Andrew United Methodist Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory and Memory Gardens.