Ellen Tabler Lemen

Ellen Tabler Lemen, 82, passed away Sept. 5, 2014,

Ellen was born and grew up on Red Hill in Martinsburg, to Raymond E. Tabler and May Stuckey Tabler. She graduated from Martinsburg High in 1949, and then attended Shepherd College, where she met and married Wiloughby (Bill) Lemen on Jan. 3, 1951. She received her BA degree from Colorado State College and an MA degree (Summa Cum Laude) from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She was ordained to ministry at University Presbyterian Church in Toronto, upon completion of a Special Course of Study at Knox College, U of T. Ellen completed her formal education with a Dr. of Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Texas.

Ellen’s travels with Bill took them worldwide, including Hawaii, Colorado, Virginia, Alberta, Ontario, Australia, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica – all in pursuit of continuing education and service to the ministry. In retirement, she lived in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

She raised three children, Morgan Lemen (Linda), Wendy Lemen Bredehoft (Roger), and Drew Lemen (Judy). Her grandchildren (10) and great-grandchildren (eight) delighted her; she recorded their milestones of growth and development in separate journals, one for each new arrival. Ellen’s remaining sibling is her older sister, Dorcas May, who resides in Hagerstown, Maryland.

A champion of social justice, she worked with the marginalized, the poor, and downtrodden. She was loved for her quiet, listening ear by those with whom she came in contact. As a friend and former professor stated, “She made her mark in Christian mission on a broad scale…and deep.” Her sincerity, hospitality and generosity were appreciated by all, and she served as a role model for many. Her memory lives on in the work that she did.