Rev. Lemon Succumbs At 85

The Rev. William P. Lemon, 85, pastor-emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church, died last night at Whitehall Convalescent Home where he had been a patient.
The Rev. Dr. Lemon was pastor of the church and director of Presbyterian student work for 16 years.
Born Feb. 14, 1882, in Cardiff, Wales, Dr. Lemon worked as a clerk above the mines of Rhoudda Valley, Wales, and as an apprentice to an accountant before being called as an assistant pastor to the Trinity Church, Tonypandy.
He continued preaching while an undergraduate at the University of South Wales at Cardiff. In 1910, he came to the United States on a scholarship at Huron College in Huron, S. D., where he earned his bachelor's degree and later was accorded an honorary doctor of divinity degree.
Dr. Lemon received his master's degree from Princeton University and a bachelor of divinity degree from the University of the State of New York. He was graduated in 1915 from the Union Theological Seminary and took post-graduate work at Columbia University.
For 17 years, Dr. Lemon conducted a class for business and professional men of all faiths in Detroit. It was under the auspices of the YMCA of Detroit.
He came to Ann Arbor in November, 1934, from the University of Iowa where he was a frequent lecturer and president of the Association of Presbyterian University Pastors, a national organization.
He was pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church, Newark, N. J., from 1915 to 1921, and minister of the Presbyterian Church at the University of Minnesota from 1921 to 1931. At Minnesota he was university lecturer for the School of Library Science and conducted classes on Biblical literature.
Dr. Lemon was president of the Ann Arbor Ministerial Association and minister and student director at the University.
He took up his duties at the First Presbyterian Church during ceremonies on Dec. 9, 1934, in the old First Presbyterian Church which stood on the site now occupied by The News. During his ministry, the Gothic-style church building at 1432 Washtenaw was erected in 1937.
Dr. and Mrs. Lemon went abroad in 1939 and again in 1948 to England, Wales, France and Germany where he preached in a number of churches under the auspices of the National Council of Churches.
He retired at the age of 70 in 1952. During his retirement he took interim pastorates in Toledo, Bloomfield Hills, Northville, Maumee, Ohio, and Detroit.
Dr. Lemon is survived by his wife, Eleanor; two daughters, Mrs. J. P. (Kathryn) McAllister, and Mrs. Edwin G. (Gwenyth) Burrows, both of Ann Arbor; a son, David G. Lemon of Berkeley, Calif.; and seven grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Ernest T. Campbell assisted by the Rev. Willard Lampe of Detroit officiating. Burial will be made at Washtenong Memorial Park. Friends may call at the Muehlig Chapel beginning at noon Tuesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the William P. Lemon Scholarship Education Fund for Union Theological Seminary Students in care of the Rev. Mr. Campbell at the First Presbyterian Church.