1921 - 2018
ONEONTA - Mildred W. "Mimi" Lehman, formerly of Cooperstown, passed away Friday evening, February 2, 2018, in her residence at St. James' Manor in Oneonta. She was 96.
When we discussed our mother's obituary with her, she responded, "just say she died". We feel the need to elaborate on that a little.
A native of Delaware County, she was born November 2, 1921, in Trout Creek, one of six children of Clair L. and Mildred (Drake) Whitaker.
After graduating from Delaware Academy in Delhi in 1939, Mimi attended the State Teachers College in Oneonta, and graduated from there with a bachelor's degree in education in 1943.
Her first teaching position was in Baldwin on Long Island, where she taught for two years. In 1945 she moved to Cooperstown and began teaching 3rd grade at Cooperstown Elementary School. She later taught 2nd grade, and retired from teaching in 1976.
Soon after she moved to Cooperstown, Mimi met Carroll Barnes Lehman, who had just started teaching science in the school system. On April 12, 1947, they were married in a ceremony at the First Presbyterian Church of Delhi, and then settled into their home on Walnut Street where they raised their three children.
Mimi was a member and former Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, and after moving to Oneonta attended the First United Presbyterian Church (The "Red Door" Church). She was also a member and Past Regent of the Otsego Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), the Cooperstown Women's Club, and volunteered for over 20 years at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital. In her leisure she enjoyed bowling and was on several area leagues.
Mimi is survived by two daughters, Kathleen Werther of Latham and Barbara Rothermel and husband, Otto, of Oneonta; one son, Thomas Lehman and wife, Carolyn of Westminster, MA; eight grandchildren, Kimberly and Jay Werther, Jonathan, Brian and Kara Rothermel, and Thomas, Jennifer and Danielle Lehman; eight great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Carroll, who died August 3, 1999, as well as all of her siblings, Dr. John Ogden Whitaker, DDS, LaVerne Whitaker, Annie Laurie Robinson-Ludington, Helen Whitaker Greene and Wanita W. Lewis.
A Memorial Service will be offered at 12 Noon Saturday, February 10, 2018, at the First United Presbyterian Church (The "Red Door" Church), 2 Walling Avenue, Oneonta, with the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Walton Leavitt, pastor officiating.
Mimi will be laid to rest later this Spring in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Carroll B. Lehman Memorial Science Award, c/o Cooperstown Central School, 39 Linden Avenue, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
