Gay Maxene Lehman

Memorial service will be live-streamed from College Mennonite Church at

https://boxcast.tv/channel/n12gpk18euckrb3gcgs4; beginning at 11:55 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

Gay Maxene (Hunsberger) Lehman, 75, passed away on July 24,2025 surrounded by her loving family. She fought a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer for 9 months.

Gay was born September 21, 1949 to Paul and Edna (Martin) Hunsberger in the northern Ontario town of Noelville, Canada where her father pastored a small Mennonite church. When she was ten, the family moved to Goshen so her parents could continue their education at Goshen College. The family ended up staying in Goshen, but Gay proudly maintained her Canadian citizenship.

On June 24, 1972, she married Sanford Lehman, the son of Norman and Alice Lehman, whom she met at Goshen College. Gay is survived by her loving husband, Sanford of 53 years; a son Doug (Melissa) in Albuquerque, NM; a daughter Angela (Andrew) Schwartz of Goshen; three granddaughters Amber (Jack) Cox of Goshen; Alice and Cora Schwartz of Goshen; Also surviving are her siblings; Joy (Bob) Beiler, her twin brother Ray (Mary) Hunsberger of Goshen; Gloria (Jim) Schwartz of Aurora , Ohio; and Grace (Evan) Roth of Littleton, Colorado. She is also survived by an Uncle Harold (Lorene) Martin of St. Jacob’s, Ontario, Canada and many cousins in Ontario. Sanford’s family was also very special to Gay.

After graduation from Goshen College in 1971, she taught fifth grade in East Noble Schools (Indiana), Lowville Academy and Central Schools (New York), and Goshen Community Schools (Indiana). She thoroughly enjoyed teaching her many fifth-grade students.

Upon retiring in 2010 her interests changed. She became involved in The Window, a nonprofit organization that helps people facing financial struggles. She served on the board of directors, was chair for many years, and helped as a Meals on Wheels dispatcher. She also enjoyed spending many hours creating, piecing, and sewing all-fabric books for children called Quiet Books. This was very rewarding to her.

She also greatly enjoyed extensive travel with Sanford, her family, and her friends. They took trips to India, Nepal, Indonesia, Europe, South America, and many other countries which allowed her to experience the world. She and her family also took many trips to New York, Canada, and New Mexico.

Another thing Gay enjoyed was hosting many Goshen College International students, some only stayed through the summer and over Christmas break, but many spent several years in their home. She willingly opened her home and kitchen to these students and often felt she gained more than the students.

Gay was an active member of College Mennonite Church where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, sang with the Adult Chorale, served on the Discipling Commission, and mentored many young students. Her faith, her family, her church family, and her large groups of friends brought joy to her life. Gay will be missed by all who were touched by her life.

Visitation will be Monday, July 28, 2025 from 2 to 8 p.m. in the College Mennonite Church Koinonia Room. A memorial service will be conducted Tuesday at 12 p.m. at College Mennonite Church followed by a fellowship meal and scattering of her cremated remains in the memorial garden.

Memorial gifts can be given to The Window at 223 S. Main St., Goshen, Indiana 46526.

Yoder-Culp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.