Edward Thomas Lehn Jr.

Ed was born in Manhattan, New York on May 6, 1927 to Mona Masterson Lehn and Edward Thomas Lehn, Sr. The family lived in White Plains, NY, with Ed attending the local Christian Brothers High School there for two years. Ed acquired a wooden catboat, named “Go Forth”, sailing it on Candlewood Lake, CT in 1941. He was a Boy Scout and an Altar Server.

The family moved to Dallas, TX, living on Park Lane. Ed tried out for the Highland Park HS football team, discovering that Doak Walker, Bobbie Layne and other talented members were already on the team, altering his plans. He graduated from HPHS and volunteered to enlist in the US Navy on his 17th birthday in 1944.He served by attending TCU in Forth Worth while on active duty. He studied engineering at TCU until his V-12 Training Unit deactivated in 1946. He transferred to Naval ROTC at the Rice Institute. He graduated from Rice with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1948.

Ed joined his father’s firm, the Edward Lehn Construction Company, which pioneered the tilt wall construction and other masonry contracting projects for institutions and commercial sites across the DFW area. Ed remained active and then in the inactive US Naval Reserve, Civil Engineering Corps, until 1955, with an Honorable Discharge as Lieutenant. With his friends, Ed enjoyed bird hunting in the Trinity River bottoms area near Denton, TX.

Ed joined Geophysical Services, Inc., which became Texas Instruments (TI), in the early 1950’s. Ed and Peggy Jean (Crowley) wed in 1951. When the newlyweds drove up the front of the glitzy Shamrock Hilton Hotel in Houston, TX on their wedding trip/honeymoon, their car’s radiator gave way, extending their stay there. While at TI’s Lemon Avenue office, the entire office emptied to witness the passing of the President’s and the Governor’s motorcade as it rolled past, headed next to the Triple Underpass in November, 1963.While Peggy, an artist, painted and gardened and was a housewife/mother, Ed worked at TI as an engineer in the cost estimating group, retiring from TI after about 15 years to work in estate management.

In 1961, Ed and Peggy, their children Bob and Nancy, joined the Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club (DCYC) on Lake Dallas (Lewisville Lake). A wooden Lightning centerboard sloop named “Calypso” was purchased from Al Spaulding, one of DCYC’s founding members in 1962. Later, Ed bought Longhorn #4, naming the boat “Calypso II”. Then, a Sunfish boardboat was acquired. These boats at DCYC were raced a lot on weekends for many years, with many fun times, good friends and, occasionally, a trophy earned. Dad served as DCYC Commodore in 1968 and enjoyed returning with Bob to see the club.

Later, Ed and Peggy discovered Rockport, TX, buying a house on Key Allegro and sailing their Pearson 23,” Cinco” to sail in Aransas and in Corpus Christi Bays. Next purchased and heavily cruised was a Catalina 30 Sailboat named “Winsome”, trailering a dinghy named “Losesome”. Many stories of racing and of cruising, particularly a sailing adventure from Rockport, TX to the Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas, are recalled, documented.

Ed and Peggy also enjoyed many games of golf with family and with friends after moving to their house near the 9th teebox at Rockport CC. Peggy won the Ladies’ Net Club Championship. After the loss of Peggy in 2015, and the landing of Hurricane Harvey, Ed returned to Dallas to be near family. He practiced healthy habits and enjoyed watching people walk around NorthPark Mall and traffic from his balcony in North Dallas. He played chess and read and prayed every day.

Ed is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Peggy, his parents, his sisters, Pat and Phyllis, and by many other family members and friends.

Ed is survived by children: daughter, Nancy Burns Whaley of Dallas, TX; son, Robert(Lynda) Lehn of Dallas, TX; grandchildren: Stephen (Michelle) Lehn of Montgomery, TX ; Justin Lehn of Dallas, TX; Katie Burns of Austin, TX; Brian Burns of Dallas, TX; Laura Burns of McKinney, TX; and his great grandchildren: Catherine, Peter, Mia Lehn of Montgomery, TX; and Katie’s son, Beau, of Austin, TX.

The family is planning to celebrate Ed and Peggy’s lives, privately.

The following is the script suggested by Ed Lehn for his obituary as follows: “Ed Lehn sailed into the wild blue yonder to meet his Maker. On the deck, he leaves two children, five grandchildren, their spouses and four great grandchildren."

Ed’s final greeting to all: "I will meet you later at the place where I have gone.”

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.calvaryhilldallas.com for the Lehn family.