Ruth Krady Lehman, 90, died Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at Oak Lea Nursing Home, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community following a severe stroke.
She was born July 27, 1921, in Harrisonburg, Va., and was the daughter of the late D. Stoner and Frances Miller Krady. The family returned to Lancaster, Pa., in 1923, and Ruth had vivid memories of growing up in Vine Street Mission, where her father was superintendent.
Ruth graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School in 1939 and from junior college at Eastern Mennonite School in 1944. Between those periods of school, she was a stenographer on the staff of Mennonite Central Committee in Akron, Pa.
Ruth married Harold D. Lehman on Dec. 30, 1944. The first years of their married life were spent at Vineland Training School in New Jersey, where Harold was in Civilian Public Service, and Ruth was employed as secretary to a department head. The couple moved to Park View in 1946, where they raised four sons.
Ruth worked at Eastern Mennonite College for 19 years, first as an assistant to the registrar, and then as acquisitions librarian. After her youngest son graduated from college, Ruth returned to complete her college degree at James Madison University. She was a student in JMU’s first Semester in London in the fall of 1979, and earned a Bachelor of General Studies in 1981, graduating Magna Cum Laude with Distinction in Women’s Studies. Her thesis study was on “The Status of Women Faculty at Eastern Mennonite College, 1917-1950.”
Following her retirement from Eastern Mennonite College, Ruth served with her husband in Voluntary Service between 1986 and 1990 in Birmingham, England, compiling the “Turner Collection of Religious Movements, 1492-1992.” She was a longtime member of Park View Mennonite Church, where she participated in activities of Mennonite Women, served for many years as a kindergarten Sunday school teacher, and as editor of the church newsletter.
Ruth loved words, crossword puzzles, books, book clubs, writing, and editing. With her husband, she co-authored “The Laurelville Story, 1943-1993.” She typed many dissertations, studies, and book reviews. Frequently, she typed papers without charge for international students.
In addition to her husband, Harold, Ruth is survived by four sons, Kenneth and wife, Jackie, Farmville, Va., Daniel and wife, Barbara, Mansfield, Ohio, David and wife, Jan, Los Angeles, Calif.; and Larry and wife, Jane, Fredericksburg, Va.; five grandchildren, Susan L. Bouchonville and husband, Matt, Albuquerque, N.M., Hadley Bachman and husband, Brett, Columbus, Ohio, Benjamin Lehman, Los Angeles, Calif., and Michael and Christian Lehman, Farmville, Va.; three great-grandchildren, Zachary and Emily Bouchonville, and Avelea Ruth Bachman; and five siblings, Naomi K. Lehman and husband, Paul, Ephrata, Pa., Daniel Krady, Harleysville, Pa., James Krady and wife, Madeline, Lancaster, Pa., Lois K. Hartzler and husband, Roy, New Paris, Ind., and Betty K. Kelsey and husband, Cary, Elkhart, Ind.
She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Paul, by two sisters, Elva Krady, Lancaster, Pa., and Rhoda K. Lehman, wife of Martin, Goshen, Ind.; and by a sister-in-law, Ruth Good Krady, wife of Daniel.
The Rev. Phil Kniss will conduct a memorial service on Saturday, May 5, 2012, at 3 p.m. at the Park View Mennonite Church. Burial will be held privately at Weavers Mennonite Cemetery.
The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Good Samaritan Fund, 1491 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22802, or to the Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, 491 Laurelville Lane, Mount Pleasant, PA 15666.
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