Imogene Dedeker Lehr

FORT WORTH _ Imogene Dedeker Lehr passed away Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in her 94th year.

Graveside service: A private graveside service is pending.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Scottish Rite Dormitory, “SRD,” at The University of Texas, 210 W. 27th Street, Austin, Texas 78705.

Imogene Dedeker was born Dec. 16, 1931, to Ima Faye and Ivey Wilburn Dedeker, on her grandparents’ farm in Devol, Oklahoma. Her father was an independent oil operator, who moved the family frequently in those early days, always chasing the next “deal.” By 1935, they were living in Wichita Falls, and Imogene started elementary school there. At the beginning of World War II, and with the oil business thriving in West Texas, the family moved to Abilene for two years; then her father retired and settled the family in Boerne, Texas, his birthplace.

The Boerne years were good ones, and Imogene made many lasting friendships and great memories there. She was promoted a grade and graduated Boerne high school a year early in 1948. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1952, followed by graduation from Draughon’s Business College, and was immediately hired by General Motors’ financial division, GMAC, where she began as an executive secretary at the downtown San Antonio branch. It was there that she met George Edward Lehr, who was a traveling auditor with GMAC’s Houston office. They married at St. Helena’s Episcopal Church in Boerne, and thinking they would begin married life in Houston, were immediately transferred by GM to Wichita Falls instead. There, Imogene worked for an oil company, then for a law firm. Their son James was born in November 1964, and Imogene began her new fulltime job of mother and homemaker.

In 1970, GM transferred George to Fort Worth, where Imogene volunteered for the PTA and school library, and continued to care for her home and family. She was a conscientious and faithful mother and wife, had great taste, and held high standards in both ethics and etiquette. She enjoyed good reading, keeping up with news and current events, and her longtime weekly hair appointment. She was a Democrat and an Episcopalian, serving on altar guilds at churches in Boerne, Wichita Falls, and Fort Worth. She was adept at listening with a compassionate ear – a “good listener” as she would describe herself. When her own mother’s health began failing, Imogene insisted on caring for her, which she did for many years. She took great care of those whom she loved.

Grateful thanks to the staff at Mirabella Assisted Living and St. Gabriel Hospice, who helped tremendously along the journey.

Survivors:

Son, James Lehr and his husband Robi Rhea, of Fort Worth; granddaughter, Sara King and her husband Andrew, of Talbott, Tennessee; great-grandchildren Rosalie and Marshall; and brother, Bryan Dedeker and his wife Cindy, of Houston.