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EMERALD ISLE, NC – Lee Stanley Lipsitz, 96, of Emerald Isle (formerly of Ahoskie), passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.

A celebration of Lee’s life will be held at a later date.

He was born on November 26, 1926, in Baltimore, MD, the son of Alexander Warren Lipsitz and Mary Levine Lipsitz. Lee grew up in Ahoskie, NC, where the Lipsitz family owned and operated the Ahoskie Department Store. He graduated from Duke University in 1948 and was a member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and became a lifelong Iron Duke.

Lee served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg from 1945 to 1946. Lee worked in the Ahoskie Department Store until the family sold the business in 1963, after which he hit the road selling clothing up and down the East Coast for a range of diverse companies including Austin-Hill and Bill Blass for PBM (Pincus Brothers Maxwell). He traveled frequently to New York City for PBM.

Lee enjoyed a successful and entrepreneurial career, opening a collection of Golden Skillet fried-chicken franchises beginning in 1973. He also owned a pig parlor and a share in a gold mine.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Lelia Darden Sumner Lipsitz “Lil”, whom he married in 1953. He is also survived by their three daughters: Alexis Flippin, Julie Shields, and Amy Lipsitz; sons-in-law Royce Flippin III and David Shields; grandchildren: Michael Shields (Anna) and Stephen Shields (Coleman Young); Alex Burchins (Emily), Andrew Burchins (Jessie), and Molly Rebenski (James); and Maisie Flippin; great-grandchildren Charlie and Lottie Shields and Lily Burchins; brothers Steven (Barbara) and the late Hilary (Ethel); sister Betty (Lee Rout), and many nephews and nieces.

Lee was much loved by his family and many friends. His smiling presence, ebullient good cheer, enthusiastic support, curiosity, and boundless kindness will be deeply missed. His generosity in sharing his business acumen helped boost many a young entrepreneur’s career. He truly embodied the golden rule, with a lifelong mantra of “kill ‘em with kindness.” Lee lived a wonderful life and savored every single minute of it, especially if fried chicken, Julie’s pimento cheese, and vodka were involved. Go Duke!

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Friends of Western Carteret Public Library: 230 Taylor Notion Rd., Cape Carteret, NC 28584.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net

Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home, Morehead City, NC.