James Albert Lenna

James Albert Lenna, born April 2, 1928, in the Bronx, New York, passed away on March 12, 2018, in Weatherford, Texas, following a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, March 16, 2018, at the Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel, 913 N. Elm Street in Weatherford. Burial will be private at a later date at Fairview Cemetery.

As a young boy, Mr. Lenna dreamed of coming to Texas and at age 15, in 1943, he hitch-hiked and hopped box cars to Texas. He briefly worked at the Catfish Café on the Brazos River and the Bennett Acme Brick Company. In 1944, he returned to the Bronx and joined the Merchant Marines where he traveled the world. He retired from the Merchant Marines in 1967 and went on to work at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He retired from Cornell University in 1991. In 1962 in Cortland, New York, he married Eveline Torr and together had four sons. She passed away in 1975. In 1991, he married Nancy Beth and together they lived a happy life for 26 years in Weatherford.

Mr. Lenna is survived by his wife, Nancy; four sons, James, Jr. of Yorktown, Virginia, Stephen and wife, Pam of Yorktown, Virginia, Andrew and wife, Sue of Marathon, New York, and Michael of Atlanta, Georgia; three step-sons, Mackle and wife, Wilma Rutledge of Azle, Texas, Gary and wife, Melissa Rutledge of Peaster, Texas, and Dennis and wife, Sharon of Azle, Texas; two brothers, Art Lenna and wife, Linda of Vineyard, Massachusetts, and Jerry and wife, Marlene of Sunset Beach, North Carolina; and by one sister, Lori Morris of West Nyack, New York.

Mr. Lenna was much loved by his immediate family as well as his “Texas” family. He will be greatly missed.