William LeRoy Ousley

William Leroy (Lee) Ousley, age 95, of Homewood, AL, passed away on April 24, 2015. Born in Montgomery, AL, he graduated from Sidney Lanier High School. He attended the Navy School of Music and became a member of the Navy Band. From there, he went to active duty in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was chosen to join the Admiral’s Flagship as a part of Band 13. On December 7, 1941, he was at Pearl Harbor on the U.S.S. Dobbin during the first wave of the attack. To prepare for the second wave, he was transferred to the U.S.S. Raleigh for ammunition supply to the deck guns. He survived the attack and further traveled in the South Pacific until 1946. Upon being Honorably Discharged from the Navy, he attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Violin and a degree in piano technology. He was married in 1952 to Eleanor Orosan and moved to Birmingham where he joined the Alabama Symphony and remained a member for 38 years. He also taught band and stringed instruments in the Jefferson County School system. As a piano technician and musician contractor, he served the arts and music community in Birmingham for nearly 50 years. He is predeceased by his mother, Clyde McQueen Ousley and his father, William Richardson Ousley of Montgomery, AL. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Eleanor (Nora) Ousley, his children Deborah Hawkins (Charles), Gary Ousley (Nancy), and Mitchell Ousley (Lori), and grandchildren Charlie Hawkins, Meaghan Hawkins, kali Ousley, Bridget Ousely, Annabelle Ousley, Aidan Ousley, and one great grandchild, Edwin Hill. A Memorial Service will be held at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church on April 30, 2015, at 6:30 PM. Pastor Gary Furr will be officiating. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date..