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It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must inform you of the death of our classmate,
Don Lewis, on March 1, 2024 In Evans, GA.
Don is survived
by his daughter, Sandra Knezevich and her husband Michael;
their son, Donald and his wife Edith; their daughter, Keri Monteith; their son,
Jeffrey and his wife Jennifer; and their grandchildren, Shelton Lewis, Raven
Lewis, Brayton Lewis, Harrison Monteith, Sullivan Monteith, Cooper Lewis, and
Benjamin Lewis. His wife Pat died on April 3, 2024.
A memorial
service with military honors will be held at 11:00 AM on March 18, 2024 at
Christ Church Presbyterian, 4201 Southern Pines Drive, Evans, GA 30809.
The funeral for Don and his
wife Pat, who died on April 3, 2024, will be at 10 AM, October 28, 2024, at the
West Point Cemetery. Those attending should meet NLT
9:30 AM at the Visitors Control Center located in the West Point Visitors Center
in Highland Falls.
Condolences may
be set to Pat at 4275 Owens Road, Apt 2325, Evans, GA 30809-4063.
In lieu of
flowers, the family has requested that donations in Don’s memory be sent to the
American Junior Golf Association Foundation, 1980 Sports Club Drive, Braselton,
GA 30517; the West Point Association of Graduates, Attn: Gift Operations, 698
Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996 (write Army Football Team Endowment in the
check’s memo section); or Christ Church Presbyterian, 4201 Southern Pines Drive,
Evans, GA 30809.
Well done,
Don. Be thou at peace.
Click here to go to Don's Last Roll Call Tribute.
Remembrances:
Class Memorial Pages\E-2 Don Lewis.pdf
Obituaries:
Donald H. Lewis
November 10, 1937 — March 1, 2024 Evans, GA
 Colonel Donald H. Lewis, US Army (Retired) of Evans, GA, husband of Patricia E. Lewis, passed away on Friday, March 1, 2024.
Don was born in Auburn, New York on November 10, 1937, to Harry and Jean
Lewis. His childhood was filled with numerous athletic endeavors including
football (both offense and defense), basketball, and baseball. He graduated from
Auburn High School in 1955 and was inducted to their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014
After high school, Don attended The Manlius School in
New York before his appointment to the United States
Military Academy at West Point in 1956. He was a member
of multiple athletic teams at both schools, but football
was his passion and where he excelled. He is a graduate
of Manlius, West Point, the Armed Forces Staff College,
United States Army War College, and earned a Master of
Business Administration from New York Institute of
Technology.
On a blind date while attending West Point, Don met his
true love. He married Pat immediately after his 1961
graduation. This marked the beginning of his incredible
military career and journey as a devoted husband and
father.
The early years of Don’s military career took him to
Okinawa, Vietnam, Korea as well as two tours in
Washington, D.C. where he was stationed at the White
House and Pentagon. During his twenty-eight years in the
military, he had many important assignments including
Commander of the 35th Signal Brigade (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina,
Commander of the 501st Signal Battalion, and Commander of the 999th Signal Company. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze
Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5 OLC), Army
Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army General Staff
Identification Badge, Presidential Service Badge, and
Senior Parachutist Badge.
After Don’s retirement, his free time was spent on the
golf course, coordinating multiple golf groups, as a
member of Christ Church Presbyterian in Evans, and
volunteering for several organizations such as AJGA and Georgia Games. He loved
playing golf, being on the water, traveling, and spending time with family and
friends.
In addition to Don’s wife of 62 years, Pat, he is
survived by his children: Sandra Lewis Knezevich
(Michael), Donald Hugh Lewis, Jr. (Edith), Keri Lewis
Monteith, and Jeffrey Jay Lewis (Jennifer);
grandchildren: Shelton Hugh Lewis, Raven Alexander
Lewis, Brayton Hamilton Lewis, Harrison James Monteith,
Sullivan Charles Monteith, Cooper Samuel Lewis, and
Benjamin Reed Lewis; brother: Richard Lewis (Barbara);
sister-in-law: Bobbie Lewis; and many other loving
family members. He is preceded in death by his parents:
Harry and Jean Lewis; and brother: Dr. John “Jack”Lewis.
A memorial service with military honors will be held
March 18, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Christ Church
Presbyterian, 4201 Southern Pines Drive, Evans Georgia,
30809 with Robbie Hendrick officiating. Interment will
be at West Point Cemetery in New York at a later date.
Family will receive friends immediately following the
ceremony at Christ Church Presbyterian. In lieu of
flowers, donations can be made in Don’s memory to the
following organizations:
AJGA – American Junior Golf Association
https://www.ajga.org/donate
West Point Association of Graduates – Army Football Team
https://alumni.westpointaog.org/sports?giveto=armyfootball
Christ Church Presbyterian, Evans Georgia
https://www.christchurchpres.org/give
Assembly/Taps Memorial Article:
Donald H. Lewis 1961
Cullum No. 23779-1961 | March
1, 2024 | Died in Evans,
GA
To be interred in West Point Cemetery,
West Point, NY at a later date.
A man’s worth can be judged by his
response to adversity, and in the face of adversity Donald
Hugh Lewis stood tall. He faced it when he was called to
report to South Guardroom late one evening the week before Christmas for
“turnout.” A “turnout,” as opposed to a “turnback,” meant that all
graduation and wedding plans were on hold while readmittance was attained.
He faced the challenge of sustaining himself while the process unfolded with
the local draft board, an interested on-looker. Adversity faced him again as
a young captain assigned to the White House Communications Agency preparing
for presidential site visits while fending off “assistance” from
well-meaning local potentates, and when towing a two-horse trailer, with
horses aboard, along a busy interstate in the dead of summer up the eastern
approach to the Blue Ridge Mountains when the engine overheated. His biggest
challenge came later when the love of his life and mother of his children
entered a “no-win” battle with dementia. Whenever and wherever adversity
presented itself, Don persevered with strength, dignity, and courage.
Don was born to Jean and Harry Lewis in
Auburn, NY on November 10, 1937. Don progressed through the Auburn school
system, graduating from high school in 1955. He was an athletic standout,
lettering in the three classic sports. Recognition of his sports excellence
came with admittance to the Auburn Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. He made
steady progress in the academic side of education with his mother’s foot
squarely on his backside demanding positive effort. He spent a year at
Manlius Prep School before entering West Point in the summer of 1956,
graduating in early June 1961. While at the Academy, he earned numerals and
a monogram in football (a member of the undefeated 1958 team) and lettered
in baseball.
With graduation came marriage to Patricia
E. Raven of Baldwin, NY on June 8, 1961. From that point, career and
marriage became intertwined for the next 28 years.
There were no soft spots in assignments.
He went from platoon leader in the 501st Signal Battalion, 101st Airborne
Division to company commander of the 999th Signal Company on Okinawa, to the
White House Communications Agency, to command of the 501st and on to command
the 35th Signal Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps. It is as if he were
handpicked for each level of command based on superior performance in the
preceding job, accompanied by below-the-zone promotions. The non-command
jobs were demanding as well: executive officer of the 501st in Vietnam;
headquarters of the Computer Systems Command; headquarters of the UN Command
in Korea; Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army; and deputy commander of
Fort Gordon, GA. His awards included the Legion of Merit (one oak leaf
cluster [OLC]), a Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (five
OLCs), the Presidential Service Badge, the Army General Staff Badge, and
Senior Parachutist Badge. He graduated from the Signal School, the Armed
Forces Staff College, and the Army War College, and he earned an MBA from
the New York Institute of Technology. Don’s key to success was his own high
standard of performance based on integrity and complete honesty in all
aspects of life.
As his career grew, so did his family:
Sandy, Don, Keri and Jeff birthed along the trail of assignments from
Okinawa to Northern Virginia to Georgia and places in between. Family was
always his priority. Strong schools and access to activities often
determined house location. More important were the lessons of life he
instilled as the kids navigated their way through childhood and adolescence,
or what he referred to as “Fools Hill,” lessons that were often met with
rolled eyes at the time given but recognized in adulthood as an essential
foundation of strong morals and values. He was clear and consistent as to
what was expected. If their mother issued a “wait until your father gets
home,” they knew there would be consequences for their missteps. The rules
were clear: right versus wrong with no areas of gray; do the right thing;
say what you mean; do what you say you are going to do. Just as important,
he supported and encouraged his children’s passions and dreams. He shared
with them his love of sport and competition, coaching teams and, when
possible, being the silent sideline supporter.
After retirement in 1989, Don and Pat
took up residence at a golf community in Evans, GA. Don involved himself in
the HOA and other volunteer endeavors, but golf became his passion. They
both took up the sport with gusto, Don lowering his handicap to single
digits. He volunteered with the American Junior Golf Association and was
coordinator for multiple local golf groups. He hosted the annual (came to be
“legendary”) Masters party. There was also travel around the country, often
connecting with classmates and friends; travel to Scotland (including a
round at St. Andrews), Ireland, and England; and travel to see the kids and
growing number of grandkids in Greenville, Wilmington, Chicago and San
Diego.
Don and his wife, Pat, died almost within
a month of each other in Evans in the spring of 2024: he on March 1st; she
on April 3rd. It was as if she knew, dementia aside, that Don was gone.
Their ashes are interred at the West Point Cemetery. Please join our family
in lifting a cup of Grey Goose on the rocks in memory of Don. “Well Done,”
Dad, Grandpa, Friend. You are at peace.
— Family and Friends
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