Jesse L. Bobbitt "Lee"

Jesse L. Bobbitt (“Lee”) was born September 18, 1933 in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He died October 22, 2019. His Parents were Howard E. and Marie (Burton) Bobbitt. He grew up in Xenia Township of Greene County, Ohio, graduating from Xenia Central High School in 1951. He earned his B.A. at Berea College, Berea, Kentucky in 1955. After a year of graduate study at the University of Wisconsin he volunteered to be drafted in the U.S. Army where he was assigned to the U.S. Army Medical Research Laboratory at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After his Army duty, Lee taught science and math in the Louisville Public Schools while continuing his graduate studies in chemistry and education. He received a fellowship for studying biochemistry at the School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Kentucky, and earned his Ph.D. in 1964. He returned briefly to Fort Knox as a civilian scientist before joining Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, IN, in 1966.

At Lilly, Dr. Bobbitt specialized in protein biochemistry, including purification and the physical, functional, and biological characterization of peptides and proteins for use as therapeutic agents or as the targets of therapeutic agents. He worked with proteins from natural tissue sources and from mammalian cells and bacteria modified by recombinant gene technology. He retired from Eli Lilly and Co. in 1993 and became an active volunteer with the Executive Service Corps in in its youth education programs. He served on the Board of Directors for the Science and Engineering Foundation of Indiana and was a member of the Board of Visitors for the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University.

Lee is survived by his wife, partner, and best friend, Carolynne Fincher Bobbitt, whom he married in 1956. Also surviving are sisters, Jean Andreas Joyce, Cleveland, OH, Deborah Achor, Troy, OH, and brother David B., Batesburg, SC. Brothers, James F. and Donald Eugene, and sisters, Lois Hall and Barbara Hook, both of Xenia, OH preceded him in death. Lee and Carolynne had no children, but rejoice in a large, extended family of aunts, uncles, siblings, and cousins from both sides.

A memorial service will be held Monday 11:00am at the Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N Meridian St Indianapolis, IN 46260, with visitation beginning at 10:00am. Memorial contributions may be made to the JCFA Student/Faculty Development Fund, Butler University and the Marquette Manor Foundation.