- Date Of Birth: May 3, 1916
- Date Of Death: August 12, 2016
- State: Indiana
Sherman William Lemen, 100 years and 101 days old, of Osgood was called to be with the Lord on August 12, 2016 at 7:40 a.m. He was born May 3, 1916, south of Osgood on Tanglewood Road on what was known as the J. S. Bilby farm. The son of Chancie William and Naomi (Black) Lemen, he is survived by four children, David William (Jackie)Lemen of Carmel, Steve (Cindi) Lemen of Santa Claus, Martha Lee (Les) Kessens of Osgood, and Larry (Miriam) Lemen of Westfield. He is also survived by two sisters, Mary Ellen Hammersley and Phyllis Courtaney. He was preceded in death by his parents and by Infant Lemen, Joe Lemen, Albert (Buddy) Lemen, Alberta Fender, Dorothy Ralston, Carl Lemen, Richard Lemen, Chancie Eugene Lemen, Eva Crum and Winnie Hettrick.
He grew up on the 240-acre farm, getting his elementary and high school education in Center Township schools, Osgood from which he graduated on April 26, 1934. He entered Central Normal College in December of 1934. He started teaching in Osgood in 1936 on a two-year license. He taught there until he started serving in WWII. Sherman was called to serve his country in November of 1941. He was honorably discharged in 1945 from Camp Atterbury (Army).
He married Margaret Jean Downey on July 27, 1941 in Milan, Indiana. They have four children, 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Sherman’s basic training was held in Rucher, Alabama, field training in Tennessee, desert training in California and Arizona. He took sea training in San Louis Obispo, California and was then shipped to Hawaii for jungle training.
From there they were shipped home by the northern route close to Alaska and landed in Seattle, Washington. From there they were shipped to Camp Atterbury for discharge.
Sherman went back to college and earned a B. A Degree.
He also served on the Ripley County Farm Bureau board and the Center Township board for a number of years. He was on the Ripley County school reorganization board in the 1960’s.
He was a charter member of the Osgood Lion’s Club. In 1992 he received the Melvin Jones Award from the Lion’s Club International. He was a life-long member of the American Legion. He served on the Ripley County Retired Teachers and the state organization. He was a charter and 50+-year member of the Osgood Civic Club.
In 2015, he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash. Rep. Randy Frye presented the award granted from Governor Pence. In 2015 he also received the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.
(Written by Sherman Lemen)
