Lee Edwardsen, 63, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. He was born in Houston, TX to the late Malcolm Edwardsen and Madeline Klein Edwardsen. The family moved to Charlotte, NC, where Lee grew up, when he was three years old.

Lee joined the United States Navy after high school, where he proudly served his country as a sonar technician on the USS Thomas C. Hart. It was at a Naval ball where he met his wife of 42 years, Linda-Maria (Lorenz) Edwardsen. Lee enjoyed attending reunions of his Navy crew at various locations in the States and had served as Chaplain of the group.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Lee worked as a Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service for 30 years until his retirement. Carrying the mail suited him well. He was able to be outdoors and was well-loved by the residents on his route, some of whom became friends that he stayed in contact with long after his retirement. Lee was charming and intelligent. He could speak knowledgeably and at length on nearly any topic; his memory was practically photographic.

Lee’s interests were many and varied, but he had a great love for bird watching and for cats. His backyard had birdhouses and several feeders, and he loved seeing their visitors. His photo once appeared in the Charlotte Observer as he

and a friend were birdwatching at a local park. His pets over the years included cats and kittens that he rescued after encountering them in distress as he carried the mail. He loved them all dearly.

Lee was a proud father of two daughters who both attended Charlotte Catholic High School. As a result, he became a lifelong fan of the CCHS Cougars. He attended Friday night football games well after his daughters had graduated and traveled to attend games when the Cougars were competing for state championships. A Cougar pennant hung on the wall of his room and his CCHS jacket was one of his favorite possessions.

Lee made a lasting impression on everyone he met. He could be astonishingly generous, had a great – sometimes quirky – sense of humor and a wonderful heartfelt laugh that was infectious. His handwriting was beautiful with artistic flourishes, which paired with his love for fancy pens and stationery; when correspondence and Christmas cards that he had sent arrived in the mail it was obvious who they were from.

Lee had incredible strength and will to live but finally succumbed to the many debilitating health conditions from which he had suffered for years. We are grateful to the staff at Huntersville Health and Rehab who cared for him so well, often under very difficult circumstances. The staff at Via Health Partners (previously Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region) are also very much appreciated for the expert care they provided. It is a testament to the value of their services that, after several brushes with death, he recovered to enjoy a reasonable quality of life until he passed away peacefully.

In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by his aunts and uncles Audrea and Bob Rohrer, and Muriel and Bob Oblinger.

Lee is survived by his wife Linda-Maria Edwardsen of Charlotte, daughters Ginger Hocutt (Jared) and Grace Edwardsen, granddaughter River Hocutt, sister Linda Dove (Dave), stepmother Helen Edwardsen, cousins Denise (Gary) Leonard and Keith (Margie) Rohrer.

Honoring Lee’s wishes, there will not be a memorial service.  The family will celebrate his life and memory privately.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Via Health Partners, the Charlotte Catholic High School Football Program, or the North Carolina State University College of Sciences.

Carolina Cremation of Charlotte is assisting the Edwardsen family. Online condolences may be made at www.carolinacremation.com.