Newell Lee Holt (Lee) age 88 passed away on February 17, 2025 at home, Sanford FL.

Lee was born in Meridian, MS on May 5, 1936 to Mary Louise Cheatham Holt and James E.Holt.

He was proceeded in his death by his parents and his brothers, William Edward Holt, John Arthur Holt and Louis A. Holt.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Ruth Louise Keck Holt; his daughters, Joise Ann Holt, Suzanne Roether (Mark); sons, Richard Holt (Leighann), David Holt (Debbie), John Holt (Amanda) and his eight grandchildren John Roether, Jackie Dlugolecki, Christopher Holt, Jenna Stankovics, Jillian Dykes, Samantha Holt, Jessica Holt, and Caroline Holt and seven great grandchildren.

Lee attended St. Aloysius Catholic School, Meridian High School and graduated from Mississippi State University on a tennis scholarship in 1958 with a degree in Industrial Management.

Lee then joined the United States Marine Corp from 1958 to 1961 as an Infantry Officer, working his way to Captain.

Lee was an avid businessman working in the window industry across the Southeast United States from 1961 to 1979. His career started in Meridian Mississippi and took the family to Jacksonville Florida, Cleveland Ohio, Sanford Florida, Nashville Tennessee and finally back to Sanford Florida. In 1979, Lee started his own business supplying windows and doors throughout Central Florida. Solar-Tite Windows & Doors became a successful "family" business as Ruth and five children worked for the company and today all five children and one grandson continue to this day working there.

Lee was a member of the Home Builders Association of Greater Orlando ever since starting Solar-Tite in 1979. He immediately worked hard to climb up the ladder achieving multiple titles in the Association such as HBA Board Member, Secretary of the Board and Associate Vice President, which is the highest position an Associate member can hold. Here are a few other acknowledgments of Leadership roles he received; Joint Building Committee Chair (2004), Home Builders Association Foundation President (2005), Inductee in the Inaugural Hall of Fame (2014), GOBA Life Director, FHBA Life Director and Lifetime Achievement Award, which was the only one given in the History of the Association for his Philanthropy from the Foundation Board. There's just too many Awards to mention all of them!

Lee enjoyed playing golf, tennis and fishing but most of all, he loved entertaining family and friends at his home. Holidays were an all-time favorite with his growing family and friends. He loved his Superbowl parties and Happy Hours which everyone looked forward to.

Honorary Pallbearers are Richard Holt, David Holt, John Holt, Christopher Holt, Mark Roether and John Roether.

Services:
Viewing
February 28, 2025 5-7 PM
DeGusipe Funeral Home
905 Laurel Ave. Sanford FL, 32771

Catholic Funeral Mass
March 1, 2025 11:30 Am
All Souls Catholic Church
3280 W. First Street Sanford, FL 32771

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to All Souls Catholic Church,
301 W. 8th Street Sanford, FL 32771.