Eugene Lehman Obituary

EUGENE ADRIAN LEHMAN
February 16, 1929 ˜ October 21, 2023

Eugene A. Lehman, 94, of Vancouver, WA, died Oct. 21, 2023, at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital with his family by his side. A private burial was held Oct. 27, 2023, at Northwood Park Cemetery. A celebration of Gene’s life will be held Saturday, Feb. 10, at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Gene was born Feb. 16, 1929, to Emilie and E.A. Lehman in Portland, OR. Sister, Phyllis was waiting at home. Gene grew up in the Alameda neighborhood attending Beaumont School, Trinity Lutheran School and U.S. Grant High School, where he graduated in 1947. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science Degree in accounting in 1951 and was a lifelong Oregon Ducks fan! He went to work as an auditor with the State of Oregon.

Gene and Lavon Olson met when both were attendants in a wedding in 1957. Love ensued and they were married in 1958 at Central Lutheran Church. Soon after children, Susan, Eric and Sally were born. The family moved to Vancouver, WA, in 1964 for Gene’s new job. They built a house and declared Vancouver their “forever home.” Over the years, his employers were First Federal Savings, Equitable Savings, Vancouver Federal Savings and the Angelo Company. Gene said that banking was first and foremost a service industry and he loved to help people buy their own homes.

Gene was a loving and devoted father, faithfully attending (and coaching) sports, dance, music, and school activities. He said raising three children was his most satisfying achievement. His adoration and pride in grandchildren, Samuel, Andrew, Honor, Maddie and Callum knew no bounds. His comment watching them drive away after a visit was, “We sure have a good family, don’t we?” If asked, Eric, Sally and Sue would add, “We sure have a good Dad, don’t we?”

Employment was great, but retirement was best. Gene learned construction skills working alongside Lavon’s father, Rus. He honed more building skills finishing the family cabin at Northwoods on Swift Reservoir, where the family spent halcyon summers for 25 years!

Christian faith was built and nurtured in Gene by his parents and Lutheran school and church. Gene was blessed with a love for choral music and a singing voice. He sang with several church choirs and the Portland Symphonic Choir. He was a devoted member at Trinity Lutheran Church, Vancouver. He was active in community service to Vancouver Rotary, American Red Cross, Clark Care and Development Center, Trinity Lutheran Church Foundation, Citizens Committee for Good Schools and more.

Gene is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lavon Lehman; daughter, Susan Lehman Stevenson and her husband, James Stevenson and grandchildren, Honor, Madeleine and Callum Stevenson; son, Eric Lehman; daughter, Sally Lehman and her husband, Steve Manilla, and grandsons, Samuel and Andrew Manilla; niece, Mary Jo Dodson and nephew, Thomas Dodson M.D. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest A. Lehman and Emilie Busse Lehman; and sister, Phyllis Lehman Dodson.

A celebration of Gene’s life will be held Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 309 W. 39th St., Vancouver, WA 98660 with a reception to follow. Donations in Gene’s memory may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church Foundation Scholarship Fund.

Please share a memory @ www.columbian.com/obits