David Michael Lehman, 81, passed away peacefully at Mayo Clinic on October 7, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
Dave was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on September 5, 1945, to the late Delores and Karl Lehman. He spent his childhood in Harrison, Ohio and graduated from Harrison High School in 1963. Dave worked through college and later graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1967 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. That same year, he married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Weber, with whom he shared 59 wonderful years of marriage.
From 1968 through 1970, Dave proudly served his country in the United States Army. Based in Germany as a member of the Allied Mobile Force, Dave was promoted to Sergeant and specialized in communications. Upon returning to the United States, he began his professional career in medical sales and embarked on a distinguished 32-year tenure with Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. He was chosen to become the Worldwide President of Mitek, an orthopedic sports medicine company based near Boston, during the final years of his professional career. Dave retired in 2003 after a distinguished career with Johnson & Johnson and looked forward to improving his golf game and traveling with his friends and family.
Following his retirement, Dave and Peggy built a home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where they lived for the past 23 years, closely surrounded by their beloved sons, daughter-in-law, and grandsons. An active and vibrant member of his community, Dave was an avid golfer who played 3 to 5 times a week at several courses, hosted a weekly club poker game for over 20 years, led a friendship & wine tasting group, and dedicated his time and energy to numerous local volunteer efforts.
Dave also loved to travel, sharing many memorable trips with Peggy and close friends throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States. Additionally, Dave appreciated the golfing trips taken with his friends to some of the nicest golf courses in the world. Above all, Dave cherished spending time with his family, especially his grandsons, Brady and Bryce.
Dave is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Peggy; sons, Brent and Matthew (Sabrina) Lehman; grandsons, Brady and Bryce; niece, Stacy Abbate; and nephew, Bradley Souders. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Margaret Souders.
Dave leaves behind a legacy of kindness, laughter, and love, and he will be deeply missed by the countless individuals he helped, cared for, teased, and loved throughout his life.
A celebration of life will be held from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on October 17, 2026, at Ponte Vedra Valley Funeral Home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Please join us for a gathering with music, appetizers, and wine from Dave’s curated collection. Later in the afternoon, guests will have an opportunity to share favorite memories and stories. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dave’s memory to BEAM (Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry), St. Johns County Firefighters Benevolent Fund, or K9’s For Warriors.
