Jane M. Alexander

Jane M. Alexander, Esquire, 90, of Dillsburg and York Springs, passed away Wednesday, May 6th, 2020 at the Harrisburg Hospital.

She was born Sunday, November 10th, 1929 in Wilkes-Barre, PA the devoted daughter of the late Isaac C. and Marietta E. Fisher Lehmer.

Jane was a 1947 Graduate of Dillsburg High School and continued her education at Dickinson College, from where she graduated in 1951. She then achieved her law degree from Dickinson School of Law in 1954 and her advanced degree in 1973.

In 1955, Jane opened her General Practice Law office in Dillsburg which she grew and was still practicing law out of until her death. In April of 1978, she became the owner and is the current President of J&J Agri Products and Services, Inc., of Dillsburg. In November 1972, Jane was named as the Deputy Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (the 1st woman in the US to be named Deputy). She served at this post until November 1977.

From 1965-1969, Jane was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 92nd District of York County. Jane was also elected in 1959 and served until 1965 as a member of the Northern Joint School Board, Dillsburg. In 1955, she was elected to the Dillsburg Borough Council, becoming the first woman member and later the first woman President of borough councils in PA.

Jane was extremely active within her civic communities: a Member of the Northeast Task Force for Food and Farm Policy; President, Vice-President, Executive Committee and Board Member of the Pennsylvania Lung Association; Board Member for Rural Pennsylvania, Inc.; Parliamentarian for the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women(1967-1978); Member of the York County Pennsylvania and American Bar Association; former Chairman of the Pennsylvania Bar “Legal Problems of Agriculture Committee” and member of its Senior Law Committee; Member and Past President of the Dillsburg Women’s Club; former Board Member of the South Central Pennsylvania Lung Assoc.; Member of the Executive Board and past President of the Dickinson School of Law Alumni Assoc.; Past Director of the York County Society for Crippled Children and Adults; past Board Member of the York County United Community Services; Past Chairman of the Cancer, Red Cross and Cerebral Palsy Fund Drives; Vice Chairman (1973-74) and first woman member of the State Farm Show Commission (1976); former Member of the State advisory council for Comprehensive Health Planning and Executive Committee; former Board Member of the South Central PA Health Planning Council; former Member of the Task Force on Nutrition for the State Advisory Committee on Aging; former Member of the Executive Committee of Central Atlantic States Assoc. of Food & Drug officials; Past Director of Phi Delta Delta Legal Fratenity’s 10th Providence and Past President of the York County Federation and Legislation Dept. Chairman of Pennsylvania Federation of Women’s Clubs.

Jane was honored in 1974 as the Recipient of Dickinson School of Law General Alumni Association’s “Outstanding Alumni” Award. She was also the 1987 Recipient of the General Alumni Association of the Dickinson School of Law “Career Achievement” Award and in 2003 the recipient of the Honorable Sylva H. Rambo award for her distinguished career in the legal profession and as an outstanding woman lawyer. In 2001, the York County Bar Association established the Jane Alexander Annual Award to honor outstanding women working in law and in 2004, Jane was named as a member of the Advisory Board of the Frank Davidson Center for Macro-Engineering and Diplomacy, Roger William University, Rhode Island.

Jane loved to travel and talk about her travels and tell the stories of her childhood sitting with her Grandfather Lehmer, in his office, as he conducted the business of a Justice of the Peace. She had a quick wit and was always ready with a story or joke and loved to hear stories and jokes in return. Jane was a life-long member of Dillsburg’s St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. Active to the very end of her life, Jane was known for her signature hats, red Cadillac and giving out her “lucky” $2.00 bills. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed the going to the beach especially at sunrise. Dillsburg residences' will be relieved that it is now safe to drive on South Baltimore street with out the fear of a U-Turn, being made anytime a day, by a woman in a Red Cadillac wearing a Hat.

Jane was the widow of the late James McHale and P. Nelson Alexander.

She is survived by her loving family, her children, P. Nixon Alexander and his wife, Peggy, of Raleigh, NC; Marstin L. Alexander and his wife, Bella, of Bluffton, SC; Lorinda M. Krause, and her husband, Carl, of Selinsgrove, PA. Her daughter-in-law, Bay Alexander of Dillsburg and her step-son, Denny McHale, and his wife, Debbie, of Dunnellon FL. Her 10 grandchildren: Heather Pierce, Amanda Stanley, M. Nathan Alexander, Alaric Krause, Euric Krause, Honoria Krause, Mitchell Alexander, Paul Alexander, Kyle Alexander and Alysia Alexander and 10 great-grandchildren and her brother, George Lehmer, of Cherstertown, MD. In addition to her parents and husbands, Jane was predeceased by her son Halvard E. Alexander.

Due to the current Covid-19 situation, a Memorial Service will be held at a later date to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that Memorials in Jane's name be made to the Dillsburg Public Library, 204 Mumper Lane, Dillsburg, PA 17019 or the American Lung Association of Pennsylvania, 3001 Gettysburg Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

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