Edwin and Mary Lehman Scholarship Fund

The Lehmans lived most of their lives in North Lima, Ohio. Edwin was 99 years old when he died in 1977 and Mary was 90 years old at the time of her death in 1970.

Although it was not common for rural folk of his day to complete high school, Edwin’s strong interest in education motivated him to continue through to high school graduation. Later, he was a member of the local school board for more than 20 years; two major buildings were con structed during that time.

Neither Edwin nor Mary attended college, but the doors of their home were always open to Goshen College leaders such as J. E. Hartzler, Paul Whitmer, S. C. Yoder and H. S. Bender. Edwin often accompanied college solicitors as they visited homes in the community.

“With this background, it was natural that we children became interested in attending Goshen College,” writes daughter Wilma Lehman. Five of the seven Lehman children attended Goshen, with four of these becoming school teachers.

Depression days meant financial sacrifice to attend college. The two Lehman students at GC in the ‘30s expected to return home, but the college was able to arrange financing so that their education could continue.