Frank Anthony Lewis' Obituary
FRANK ANTHONY LEWIS
Frank Lewis entered into the presence of the Lord on January 10, 2014. A visitation to celebrate his life will be held on Sunday, January 19, at Rader Funeral Home in Longview from 2-5 pm. Dr. Tim Watson, Texas Baptist General Convention, will be with us during this time. We are so grateful for his guidance and support.
Frank was born in Venice, California on August 17, 1934. He graduated from Venice High School in 1952. He served in the United States Army in Germany in 1958, testing and assembling electrical equipment for the atom bomb missiles, the “Honest John” and the “Corporal”. He was honorably discharged in January 1960. He came to LeTourneau College in 1972 to pursue his love of flying and enrolled in the aviation program. However, upon learning of his career as a manager of Bradco Machine Company in Culver City, CA., he was hired to teach the Machine Tool course at LeTourneau College. He also taught in the aviation program as a flight instructor and was the golf coach for a few years. After 14 years at the university he returned to industry and worked at Borg Warner Automotive for ten years. He then retired in May 1999, having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
He was married to the love of his life, Sarah Coles Lewis, in April 1973. He considered his greatest accomplishment to be his two children, Anthony, 37 and Ruth, 35. They will miss their dad but rejoice that he is no longer suffering and he is singing and praising the Lord in heaven.
He became a volunteer chaplain for Good Shepherd Medical Center and loved singing and praying with patients throughout the hospital. He joined the Bill Glass Prison Ministries and was instrumental in leading many inmates to the Lord. Frank and Sarah have been members of First Baptist Church, Longview, since 1974.
Frank’s great love of flying started with sailplanes in Pearblossom, CA., with good friends, E. C. Welch and Irv Prue. When Frank gave his heart to the Lord at age 37 he wanted to become a missionary pilot and thus, came to LeTourneau University for training. The Lord had other plans for him and he was able to teach many young people the skills they needed to be servants for the Lord. His greatest delight was hearing from students and learning how the Lord was using them in ministry.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Kathryn Lewis; and his brothers, Alvin and Laurence Lewis.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah; his children, Anthony and Ruth, all of Longview; his sister, Marion Lewis Hassan; his nephews, Brett Hassan and Kevin Hassan, Everett, Washington, and niece, Rachel Hassan Smith, Phoenix, Arizona.
Memorials may be designated for the Bill Glass Prison Ministries, 1101 S. Cedar Ridge Drive, Duncanville, TX 75137 or Heart to Heart Hospice, www.hearttohearthospicefoundation.org. “We are very grateful for the loving care of the hospice nurses and the fourth floor nurses at GSMC”.
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