Remembering Dorothy Lehton
Robert Lehton, President of SAMI, remembers his mother
[08.13.2006]
Longtime Cocoa Beach businesswoman Dorothy Lehton, widow of retired
MSgt. Edward Lehton, went home peace- fully to be with her Lord Jesus.
Surrounded by her family and caregivers, she passed away on Friday morning,
August 11, 2006. Mrs. Lehton was born November 18, 1918 in Augusta, Georgia, the
daughter of Owen and Grace Eubanks, longtime residents of Augusta, Georgia and
Eau Gallie, Florida. After graduating from Georgia College for Women in
Milledgeville, Georgia, she worked as a dietician at the Medical College of
Georgia Medical Center and Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. After their
marriage in Augusta in 1944, Dorothy and Ed traveled with the Air Force until
their retirement. While stationed at Patrick Air Force Base, they purchased land
in south Cocoa Beach and opened the Cocoa Beach Trailer Park. After Air Force
retirement in 1961, the Lehton family became permanent residents of Cocoa Beach.
Mrs. Lehton enjoyed her membership in the 1st Baptist Church of Cocoa Beach for
many years. She had numerous friends among the tenants and winter visitors she
came to know through her business.
She will be remembered as a generous and kind
wife, mother, friend and landlord. She is survived by her son, Dr. Robert E.
Lehton and his wife, Bunny of Cocoa Beach and her daughter, Jeni Bridwell and
her husband, Bill of Seneca, SC. Her two grandchildren are Jason Lehton of
Melbourne and Amy Bridwell and her husband, Thom Patterson of Atlanta, GA. She
is also survived by her step-grandchildren Mark and Ryan Gellert. She had two
step great-grandchildren, Hannah and Caleb Gellert. She is also survived by
three nieces in Augusta, GA. She was predeceased by her step-granddaughter, Amy
Gellert. Special thanks to her devoted and loving caregivers during the last
years of her life: Christine Knowlton, Anne Woods, Sandy Lent, Terri Gupton and
Patti Drew. The family extends deep appreciation to Dr. Robert Udell and staff
and Hospice of Health First. Calling hour is Monday, August 14th at Florida
Memorial Funeral Home Chapel from 5:30 p.m. until services begin at 6:30 p.m.
Burial will follow Tuesday, August 15th at 9 a.m.
Donations in her memory may be made to Amy's fund at Crosswinds
Runaway Center, 1407 Dixon Blvd., Cocoa, FL, 32922 or the American Macular
Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515, North Hampton, MA 01061-0515.
Arrangements by Florida Memorial Funeral Home in Rockledge.
