The Life of Mr. Charles E. Lehman

Charles E. Lehman, 87, died on Monday, June 29, 2009, in Charlottesville, Va. He is survived by his wife, Ann, and daughter, Leigh Rockey, both of Charlottesville, Va.; and his many nieces and nephews.

Charlie was born on May 21, 1922, in Centralia. He was the first principal of York Suburban High School, from September 1958 until November 1960, when he became superintendent and served as such through June of 1983. Upon his retirement, York Suburban High School was named the Charles E. Lehman Building. He was a graduate of New Cumberland High School in 1939, received his bachelor's degree from Shippensburg University in 1945, and his master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1950. He also completed advanced studies toward a doctorate at Pennsylvania State University.

He served as Private First Class in the United States Army from 1941 to 1946 and earned a Purple Heart on December 13, 1944, in Germany. He served on the boards of the York County Hospital Authority, Asbury United Methodist Church of York, Capital Area Blue Cross in Harrisburg, American Cancer Society in York, York Hospital Annual Giving Fund, and the York Salvation Army. His time on the board of the York Salvation Army spanned 30 years, with 19 as chairman. In 1992, he received the Salvation Army "Others" Award, and in 2000 he was given a certificate of life membership on the board and had a room in the Salvation Army building in York named in his honor.

He was a member of the York Rotary Club from 1960 to 2005 and served as its president in 1990. In 1995 and 1996, he served as the United Way board president and led the United Way campaign to its first ever $1 million. He was honored by the York Chamber of Commerce in 1983 for outstanding leadership as a board member from 1969 to 1972. The York Sertoma Club gave him its Service to Mankind Award in 1991, and he received the York County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award in 2001. He was the first recipient of the Shippensburg University Distinguished Alumnus Award In 1984.

A memorial service will be held in his honor on Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, 340 E. Market St., York. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Asbury United Methodist Church, 340 E. Market St., York, PA, 17403; or the York Salvation Army, 50 E. King St., York, PA, 17401

Published by York Daily Record on Jul. 2, 2009.