Leah Jane Willman

Leah Jane Willman-Schuman was the daughter of Doris and Norman Wolverton and grew up in the bustling metropolis of St. Paul, Indiana (population: everyone knew your business). As Leah once perfectly summarized on Facebook: “I was born and raised in a small Indiana town back in the 50s–60s when life as a child was fun with no worries or pressures.” And she meant it.

Leah was a cheerleader, played tenor saxophone in the band, and graduated at the top of her class of 18 students—proving early on that she thrived in both leadership roles and small crowds. She went on to attend Ball State University, where she studied elementary education, was a proud member of the Delta Zeta Sorority, and graduated early after earning what she liked to call her MRS degree, having met and married Larry Lee Willman in 1969.

Leah worked for the State of Indiana in Indianapolis and later became the steadfast force behind a family constantly on the move. Married to Larry for 42 years, she followed his career trail from Indianapolis, IN to Sewell, NJ, to Pittsburgh, PA, with a brief intermission in Lansdale, PA, and finally landing in Spring, TX—where she perfected both her tennis backhand and her hostess game.

Some days, Leah proudly embraced life as a stay-at-home mother to four children: Kyle, Brett, Daren, and Shannan Willman-Smith. She maintained her sanity (and competitive edge) by playing tennis two to three days a week for years at Memorial Northwest Swim and Racquet Club, where her backhand was legendary and not to be underestimated.

Leah’s talents were many and specific: folding bed sheets so crisply they looked factory-fresh, baking Christmas cookies with military precision, and ensuring there was always an endless supply of Chex Mix for marathon family games of Ups and Downs.

Leah delighted in her role as grandmother to thirteen grandchildren and one great-grandson, and she was fiercely proud of her grandchildren’s accomplishments, celebrating every milestone, award, and success as if it were her own.

After the early loss of her first husband, Leah found love again with Richard Lee Schuman, gaining not only a partner but two additional daughters, Amber DiMaggio (Todd) and Amy Durnin (Paul), who loved and cared for her deeply. Leah seamlessly joined Richard’s Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity family, where her bubbly personality, social flair, and unmistakable warmth made her an instant favorite.

Leah Jane Willman-Schuman lived with humor, heart, and a tennis racket always at the ready. Her legacy is one of successful children with strong values—kindness, resilience, loyalty, and humor—values she instilled daily and lived out loud, whether at the kitchen table, on the tennis court, or cheering proudly from the sidelines. That legacy also includes laughter, loyalty, and perfectly folded sheets—proof that life is best lived with style, snacks, and a strong backhand.