In Memory

William E. Lehr Jr - Class Of 1949

...see comments from his wife Betty after the obituary which follows

William Lehr Obituary

Captain William E. (Bill) Lehr, Jr. passed away surrounded by his family at his Sandbridge, VA home on Friday, July 7th. Bill was a decorated 30 year Coast Guard veteran who served his country in a variety of capacities ranging from shipboard commands, pollution control projects and combat service in Vietnam. 

Bill was born on August 7, 1931 in Milwaukee, WI to the late William Sr. and Myrtle Lehr. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1953. He married his first wife, Dolores Ann Hill immediately after graduation and the couple had three sonsâ€"Bill III, Greg and Robert. 

His initial assignments included serving on a buoy tender, maintenance of the DEW line system in Alaska, and a leadership role on the USCGC Westwind, an icebreaker operating in the Arctic Ocean. He later attended MIT and received Master of Science degrees in Naval Architecture and Naval Engineering.

He saw combat in Vietnam where he played an important role in the fight against Viet Cong arms smuggling. He was instrumental in establishing the Brown Water Navy and became Commanding Office of CG division 13, a squadron of 11 82' patrol boats in the Mekong Delta. He was awarded the Legion of Merit with combat V for his accomplishments. 

Upon return from Vietnam, he served as the CO for the CGC Tamaro, a 206' Search and Rescue vessel.

In 1968, he began a series of shore-side assignments in Washington DC. He established the USCG Office of Research and Development, Chief of the Pollution Projects, and served as the Chief of the Environmental and Transportation Division. 

His next to final Coast Guard position was Chief of Staff of the 5th CG District in Portsmouth, VA. 

This assignment proved his favorite since it brought him to the Tidewater area. It was here that Bill met the love of his life, Betty Ruth Seichrist. They married in 1983. Bill not only got a lovely wife, he gained three additional sons: Rolf, Erik, and Kraig Seichrist. Over the years the couple have been blessed with a brood of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Bill worked for McDonnell Douglas in the Hampton area for 13 years after leaving the Coast Guard and "retired" for good in 1996 but he refused to stay idle. He became involved with a number of public service organizations ranging from meals-on-wheels, the VFW, Kiwanis, Military Officers' Association, and several Coast Guard related groups. Reading was another passion. Socially, he enjoyed the beach; parties with friends, family and fellow sailors; music and dancing. 

A life well lived, his friends and family wish him "Fair winds and following seas."

There will be a memorial service at Sandbridge Community Chapel, 3401 Sandpiper Rd, on July 22 at 2 PM. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

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His wife, Betty, comments:

His wife, Betty, added "This service (burial at Arllington Cemetery) was held Oct 31, 2023 with full military honors.  Bill has good memories of his school years and was very proud of WHS

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/pilotonline/name/william-lehr-obituary?id=52443984