More detail on this person: George William
(Bill) Lehman, 84, of Venice, Florida passed away
on Friday, July 22, 2016. He was born July 26,
1931 in Dayton, Ohio. He was preceded in death by
his parents John H. and Freda Lehman.
He was raised in Melrose, Massachusetts. Upon
graduation from high school in June of 1949, he
attended Otterbein College (now University) where
he met and married his future wife, Sally F.
Steffanni, of Indianapolis, Indiana. Following
college graduation he entered the U.S. Navy where
he earned aviator's wings and served for the
following 21 years.
During his naval career Bill was assigned to the
Naval Air Training Command, Pensacola, FL;
Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 1 and Squadron
5, Key West, FL; Naval Line School, Monterey, CA;
Naval Air Station, Whiting Field, Milton, FL;
Naval Station, Rota, Spain; United States Naval
Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA; Helicopter
Antisubmarine Squadron 9, Quonset Point, RI; and
the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, D.C.
Bill also served at the Naval Air Facility Cam
Ranh Bay Detachment, Tan Son Nhut, Saigon,
South Vietnam where he earned the Bronze Star.
His last assignment brought him to the Washington
D.C. area where he remained following retirement
from the Navy in 1974. He then taught elementary
and middle school until moving to Venice, Florida
in 1990.
Bill was an active member of the Venice-Nokomis
United Methodist Church. He was a member of the
American Legion and a member of the
Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge #1854 where he served
as organist for over 20 years. Bill Lehman was
kind to all he met and was a loving and devoted
family man. He was an accomplished organist and
enjoyed entertaining his friends and family with
his musical skills. He loved playing sports and
was an avid biker as well as a tennis and golf
enthusiast.
In addition to his beloved wife Sally, he is
survived by daughter Stephanie Pettoni (Joseph) of
Springfield, Virginia; son Jon Lehman of
Spotsylvania, Virginia; grandsons Joseph (Lea),
William and Samuel Lehman of Spotsylvania,
Virginia; and granddaughter Eleanor Pettoni of
Springfield, Virginia; sister Sara Lee Sanborn
(John) of Venice, FL and brother Jack Lehman
(Sharon) of Detroit, Michigan.
Services will be held at the Venice-Nokomis United
Methodist Church, 208 Palm Avenue, Nokomis
Florida on Friday, 7 October at 11:00 a.m.
followed by a graveside ceremony at 2:30 p.m. at
the Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road
72, Sarasota, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in
Bill's honor to Tidewell Hospice, 220 Wexford
Blvd, Venice, Florida 34293.
Published in Herald Tribune on Aug. 26, 2016
This information was last updated 08/31/2016
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