William Frank Lehman Jr. Enjoyed Island Living

William Frank Lehman Jr. of Winthrop and Vineyard Haven died Dec. 23. He was 87 years old.

Bill was born and spent most of his life in Winthrop, graduated Winthrop High School class of 1934, and graduated New England Aircraft School Aviation Mechanics. In 1942, he married his childhood sweetheart, Eleanor M. Freeman. Bill was employed in the aviation field for many years with Intercity Airlines at Logan Airport, North Shore Airways in Beverly, and Claremont Airport in Claremont, N.H. where he served to train Navy flight cadets. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Bill received his military training in Jacksonville, Fla. and was later stationed at Banana River Navel Air Station assigned to (Combat Service Air Unit) CASU-12 as an Aviation Machinist Mate second class. After receiving an honorable discharge shortly after the Japanese surrender and the end of World War II., Bill and Ellie returned to Winthrop where he joined the Winthrop Fire Department and served 31 years earning the rank of Fire Lieutenant, Clerk of the Department and the honor of being one of the first Certified Emergency Medical Technicians in Massachusetts, before retiring from the department in 1977. Bill continued to work for Caggiano Ambulance Company in Winthrop for several years.

In July of 1995, after long illness took of his beloved wife, Ellie, Bill moved to Vineyard Haven to be close to his family where he enjoyed a renewing Island life of fishing, working summers for The Trustees of Reservations as a ranger at Wasque Reservation and a bright new circle of friends. His most recent joy was being awarded the 2004 Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish tournament boat division trophy for a 47.6 pound striped bass he caught on Oct. 4.

Bill died from complications of cancer amidst the love of his family and friends; survived by his two sons; Robert and his fiancee' Deborah Rogers, Charles and his wife Brenda, his daughter, Nancy Taylor and nine grandchildren, one nephew and two nieces.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 8 at 1 p.m. at Grace Church in Vineyard Haven. A graveside service will be held in Winthrop at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations be considered to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 or Angel Flight, 492 Sutton street, North Andover, MA 01845 or the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby Scholarship Fund. To send the family an expression of sympathy please visit our on-line register book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home in North Attleboro.