Bob Lehman, the longtime co-owner of the Route 66 landmark Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri, died Thursday after a bout with cancer. He was 81.
Bob and Ramona Lehman, who are Iowa natives, took possession of the Munger Moss Motel on June 1, 1971, after a fact-finding trip to Springfield, Missouri, to look for properties there. As they told it on their website:
We just happened to stop in Lebanon on the way back home to put gas in our vehicle. We met a realtor there, a local one, who brought us over to the East end of Lebanon to the Munger Moss Motel. This was probably my first exposure to Route 66. We met with Mr. Hudson and spent a couple of hours looking at the motel and talking about its history. About a week later, Bob and our realtor called Mr. Hudson with an offer and he accepted. We then packed up a trailer and a boat and started the trek down to the Missouri Ozarks less than a month later.
In 2012, the Lehmans put up the 61-unit motel for sale for $995,000 but took it off the market some time later. They celebrated the motel’s 70th birthday in 2016.
The Lehmans became known for their hospitality and being longtime boosters of Route 66.
Ramona posted this message on Facebook today:
I want to thank all our Route 66 friends who have sent their love, their esteem of my Bob, and their sadness for his passing. Bob found out last summer he had cancer… he was brave and took the chemo and radiation as prescribed… the cancer was very agressive..In December it was found also in his brain.. He had 14 days of radiation… It really weakened him.. about 2 weeks ago he lost the strength in his legs… so we had hospice for a week and two days.. they sure are wonderful people. My husband now is at peace..I am so thankful for my two daughters, who were at his side and mine.. funeral is Monday the 4th of March. at Colonial Chapel here in Lebanon.. visitation at 2 p.m. God bless all of you..
The Munger Moss originally referred to a sandwich shop in nearby Devil’s Elbow, Missouri, built in 1936 by Nellie Munger and husband, Emmitt Moss. The building still is there as the Elbow Inn. The family relocated to Lebanon after U.S. 66 bypassed Devil’s Elbow, and they founded the Munger Moss Motel in 1946.
Lehman’s survivors include his wife, Ramona; two daughters, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sons.
The visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday and the funeral at 4 p.m. Monday at Shadel’s Colonial Chapel in Lebanon (map here). Memorials may be made to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in St. Louis or Hospice Compasses. Donations can be left at or mailed to Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, P.O. Box 948, Lebanon, MO 65536.
(Image of Bob and Ramona Lehman at their Munger Moss Motel by the Missouri Division of Tourism via Flickr)
This is really sad news. Last summer, we spent a night at the Munger Moss, during our 66 trip. Mrs. Ramona Lehman is a wonderful woman, who makes everyone feel welcome. One of the highlights of our trip.
I wish her strength to overcome the passing away of her husband.
Fred from the Netherlands
Sad to here but, Ramona Lehman was down right mean to us when we arrived.
Its been a year. Someone from Lebanon told me about Bob. I stayed at Mungermoss for 11 years, they have apartments. I was treated like family. Great people, Bob and Ramona. I am sad to hear this news. It feels like I lost a family member.