Willard Lehman

Willard longed to see the world: as a young man he would emigrate from Canada to the United States and get that opportunity when he joined the Air Force. He served multiple tours honorably in Vietnam as a navigator on a C130. It left him with a great love for the country: Will was a proud and patriotic American. He was knowledgeable about just about everything, having studied all kinds of history and his sense of humor always shone through. He loved to laugh; usually with those around him and sometimes at them. Of course, if he was laughing at you, it was a pretty good indicator that he loved you. Mornings were for relaxing and his daily predictions on the weather. A boyhood spent outdoors gave him a lifelong love of sunny days; they called him Mr. Sunshine. If his T.V. was on, he would be cheering for the Phils and the Eagles or watching Gold Rush. He lived in Alloway and worked for many years as an engineer at the nuclear reactor.

A chance encounter on Facebook led to a face-to-face meeting between Will and Carol Sue. He stepped out of his pickup, told her she was pretty and gave her a kiss. It was a closeness they would maintain for the next 14 years in companionship and marriage. He is survived by his son, Jeffery; stepson, Mike Smith; 7 grandchildren; 1 great grandson and his sister, Caroline Walsh.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 1, 3 p.m. at Alloway Baptist Church, 41 West Main Street, Alloway NJ.