Robert Joseph Lehmann

Published 12:01 am Friday, March 4, 2016

Aug. 6, 1916 – Feb. 29, 2016

NATCHEZ — Services for Robert J. Lehmann, 99, of Natchez, who died Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, at Merit Health Natchez, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel. 

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home. 

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.

Mr. Lehmann was born Aug. 6, 1916, in Pittsburgh, Pa., the son of Bernhard Lehmann and Violet Bachman Lehmann and shared his home with his beloved older sister Louise. 

After his mother died in the flu pandemic of 1918, his father moved the family briefly to Chicago and then to Columbus, Ohio.

From an early age, he showed personality traits that would come to be his hallmarks: independence and self-reliance.  He graduated from Ohio State University in 1937 with a bachelor of arts degree in accounting and business administration.  He then joined the executive training department at Sears Roebuck.

Like so many men of his generation, he left the private sector in 1940 for active duty with the military.  He joined the Ohio National Guard. Later, he attended officer candidate school in Philadelphia and was sent to Ireland for supply planning for the invasion of Africa and to England for supply planning for the invasion of Europe. He served overseas three and one-half years and had 20 years combined active and reserved duty.  He retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1960.

In 1946, he married his beloved wife, Elaine Ullman of Natchez. (They would have celebrated their 70th anniversary in September.)  Together they operated M.M. Ullman & Co. until 1982.  Ullman’s was a local house of style, and the Lehmanns were recognized in the Miss-Lou community for their partnership, good taste and ability to provide the area with the finest fashions. 

He was known at Ullmans for his respect for his employees and his warm manner with customers.  He always generated good will in the community and placed the needs of others before his own.  Former employees continued to show their gratitude and people greeted him warmly wherever he went long after he retired

He maintained his high standards of grooming, his knack for organization, and his keen intellect up until his death — so much so, that he insisted on doing his own taxes.  He also continued to use a laptop computer, an iPAD, adding machine and electric typewriter.  He corresponded regularly with his grandchildren via email.

He was a member of the Natchez Rotary Club and American Legion.  He also served on the board of the Delta Bank.  He was a member and past president of Temple B’Nai Israel, where he led tours and greeted visitors after his retirement.

Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Elaine Ullman Lehmann; one daughter and son-in-law, Mildred and Howard Amer of Boca Raton, Fla.; two grandchildren, Robin Amer of Chicago and Daniel Amer of Miami; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Peter Burns, Donnie Holloway, Henry Jones, Richard Edgin and J.W. Seibert.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jay Lehmann, Homer Rushing, Bob Dearing,  Everette Ratcliff, Tom Taylor, Butch Brown, Bruce Ellard and Charles Hunt.

The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Barry Tillman and his entire staff; and to Dr. Carl and Marcia Passman, Marty Seibert and Shields Brown for their constant support.  They would also like to acknowledge the loving care provided by Sherri McClatchy of Deaconess Home Health, Katie Sanders, Laura Hardin, Joyce Owens, Charity Dumas, Rosie Lee Stewart, Donna Woodis, Charles Hunt, Rita O’Neal, Jackie Dixon, Lisa Smith, Henry Jones, Diane Gaines, Adria Harris and Valerie Smith.

The family suggests memorials can be sent to the Fund to Save Temple B’Nai Israel (Natchez),  c/o ISJL, P.O. Box 16528, Jackson, MS 39236

Online condolence may be sent to lairdfh.com.