A Tribute to Lion Plumbing Supply Charles R. Steele Jr.
March 6, 1932 – February 24, 2026

Lion Plumbing Supply Co. is heartbroken to announce the plumbing industry lost more than a respected professional this February. It lost a gentleman.

Charles R. Steele Jr. was not a man who sought the spotlight. He preferred steady work, firm handshakes, and relationships built over time. Those who knew him understood that quiet does not mean small. His presence was steady, thoughtful, and deeply influential, the kind that shapes companies, families, and communities for generations.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Charles and Evelyn Steele, Chuck grew up with strong values and a practical mind. After graduating from Penn Hills High School, he served in the United States Navy from 1952 to 1954 — an experience that refined the discipline and resilience that would define much of his life.

Upon leaving the Navy in 1954, he moved to South Florida with his young wife, Edee — the love of his life. Chuck often said he knew he would marry her the day he met her in high school. They married in 1954 and built a life grounded in commitment, loyalty, and quiet devotion. Together they raised two children, Jay and Diana, and later delighted in grandchildren Aja and Anika, and great-grandsons Lars and Viggo Jourden.

Chuck’s early work included time in the lathing business with his uncle, Michael Steele, before taking his first plumbing job with Sonny Jones Plumbing. In 1956, at just 24 years old, he and Leo Oulette opened Leo’s Plumbing Service, incorporated on August 21 of that year. Initially they were plumbing contractors focusing on service and new residential construction projects. They established a solid business reputation, and a decade later added a retail counter that offered repair parts and irrigation sales. In the early 80’s, Chuck brought in Paul Gentile as a partner, they sold the service and contracting division and the business evolved into what is now Lion Plumbing Supply. What began as a young man’s ambition became a respected and enduring business built on integrity.

He was self-made in the truest sense of the phrase. Intelligent and forward-thinking, he understood both the technical side of the trade and the human side of leadership. He cared about people — his employees, his customers, his peers. He believed in doing things the right way.

Chuck was generous, though never loud about it. He was private, but never distant. He had a wide circle of friends and the rare ability to make others feel valued without ever needing attention for himself.

Outside of work, he loved golf and was an avid football fan. In the 1950s, both he and his father refereed amateur football games in Miami.

Those who worked alongside him will remember his calm presence, his thoughtful advice, and his unwavering standards. Those who loved him will remember something even greater: a husband devoted to his wife, a father and grandfather who led by example, and a man whose strength was measured not in volume, but in character.

The industry needs more men like Charles R. Steele Jr.

He leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured only in years or accomplishments, but in the lives he shaped and the respect he quietly earned.