Sunday's Obituary: John Leland LeMaster Sr. (1902-1980)

Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, January 14, 1980, page 1

John L. LeMaster Sr., 77, Salamonia, a retired educator and former Jay County Auditor, died Saturday afternoon at the Jay County Hospital after an extended illness.


During his career in education, LeMaster served as principal at Gov. I.P. Gray School, Madison Township High School, Poling High School, Bryant High School, and Redkey Schools in Jay County.  He also was a teacher and coach for many years.  He held the position of county auditor from 1940 through 1946.


A graduate of Fort Recovery High School, he earned his bachelor's degree from Ball State Teachers College (now Ball State University), Muncie, and his master's degree from Indiana University, Bloomington.


He was born April 25, 1902 in Madison Township, Jay County, the son of Cooper and Isabelle (Wehrly) LeMaster.  He was married July 2, 1920 to Dortha Delauter, who died May 24, 1976.


LeMaster was a member of the Salamonia Christian Church.


Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Gail (Jerry) Stoner, Troy, Ohio; Mrs. Ralph (Ardis) Bickel, Anderson, and Mrs. Philip (Ann) Monger, Hagerstown; two daughters-in-law, Mrs. John (Helen) LeMaster Jr., and Mrs. William (Wanda) LeMaster, both of Salamonia; four brothers, Gerald LeMaster, Salamonia; Floyd LeMaster, Union City; Stanley LeMaster, Akron, Ohio, and Elvin LeMaster, Columbus, Ohio; two sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Lock, Richmond, and Mrs. Mary O. Taylor, Atwater, Ohio; 21 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren.


Services will be conducted Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home in Portland.  Paul Albertson and Don Boyer will officiate.  Interment will follow in the Salamonia Cemetery.


Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. on Tuesday.  The family will be present from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday.



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