OBIT: Vernon O. LEASE, 1999, native of Somerset County, PA
  
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Meyersdale Library
  Transcribed and proofread by Richard Boyer 
  
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  _______________________________________________ 
  
  LEASE
  
    Vernon O. Lease, 84, of Cornwall Road, Lebanon, died Oct. 15, 1999,
  in Good Samaritan Hospital, Lebanon.  Born June 26, 1915, in Friedens,
  son of the late John O. and Minnie P. (Coleman) Lease.  On June 11,
  1938, he married the former Marian H. Hill, who preceded him in death
  on May 14, 1983.  Also preceding him in death were sisters Erma
  Lucille Lease, Beulah Wasconsis and Olga Cargill.  He is survived by
  a son, Dr. John Richard Lease, an orthopedic surgeon and husband of
  Dr. Linda Lease, of Hazelton; a daughter, Jean Carolyn Menser, a
  teacher and wife of Dr. John Menser, superintendent of the
  Cornwall-Lebanon School District, of Lebanon; sisters Edna Montgomery
  of Friedens, Eleanor Mace of Weston, W.Va., Mabelle Rovnack of Listie
  and Maxine Lape of Somerset; grandchildren Richard A. Menser, Kristin
  M. Knapp, Jennifer K. Menser, Jessica L. Spellmeyer, Elizabeth J.
  Lease, Hilary M. Lease, Alyson F. Lease, Amanda C. Lease and Richard
  O. Lease; great-grandchildren Taylor Elizabeth Menser, Tiana Nicole
  Menser and Ryan Michael Knapp; and several nieces and nephews.  Mr.
  Lease was the grandson of Oliver Lease, who was wounded during the
  second day of the Battle of Gettysburg.  He graduated first in his
  class from Somerset Township High School.  He attended Indiana State
  Teachers College, where he was a member of the basketball team.  He
  received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in
  1935, the year Alabama defeated Stanford in the Rose Bowl.  One of
  his classmates was Paul "Bear" Bryant.  He did graduate work at Penn
  State, Duke, USC and obtained his master's degree and
  superintendent's certificate at the University of Pittsburgh.  He was
  a retired school superintendent for the Somerset Township High School
  in Somerset, where he also served as a teacher, principal and
  supervising principal before and after World War II.  He coached
  basketball at that school and in 1941-42 had an undefeated season. 
  He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, teaching
  meteorology to pilot cadets in Waco, Texas.  He remained in the
  reserves of the U.S. Air Force and then returned to active duty
  during the Korean Conflict, teaching Air Force ROTC at Franklin and
  Marshall College in Lancaster, retiring with the rank of colonel.  He
  served on the admissions board of that college.  Pending an act of
  Scottish Parliament and Lord Lyon, he was the 23rd Baron of Raith,
  Fife, Scotland.  Most recently, he was a resident of Spang Crest
  Manor in Lebanon.  Mr. Lease was a member of the Salem Evangelical
  Lutheran Church in Lebanon.  Friends will be received from 7 to 9
  p.m. Tuesday at Christman's Funeral Home, Inc., 226 Cumberland St.,
  Lebanon, and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m.
  Wednesday in his church.  Interment, Gap National Cemetery,
  Annville.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mr. Lease's
  church.
  
  Daily American, October 18, 1999
  
  [L0444 & L0445]