J. Paul Lehman, 94, of Newport News, Va., loving husband and father of two children, died Dec. 22, 2020. He was born July 7, 1926, to Daniel and Ada (Neff) Lehman in Harrisonburg.
On June 25, 1949, he married Erma Malinda Yoder of Newport News.
While raising his young family, he worked in various capacities including chicken farmer, milk delivery and bookstore owner. From 1964 to 1973, Paul and Erma served as dorm parents at Good Shepherd School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They returned to Africa in 1979, this time in the role of host couple at the Mennonite Guest House in Nairobi, Kenya, until 1990.
He always made time for children, creatively engineering fun. He is remembered for his adventuresome spirit, humor and quirky sayings. He loved hiking, model airplanes, ice cream, mowing grass and singing. In his retirement years he volunteered at Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center. Throughout his life he was dedicated to his local church.
Survivors include his wife, Erma; two children, Wayne Lehman and Lois (Lehman) Blosser; two brothers, Mark Lehman and James Lehman; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by an older brother, Harold; and a sister, Elsie.