Donald Lewis

Donald C. Lewis Sr. was born December 24, 1921 in Perrysville, Ohio and departed this world on July 18, 2012. He graduated from Perrysville High School in 1939, and worked as a Foreman in the Ideal Electric Company in Mansfield, Ohio from 1939-1942. In October 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army/Air Force serving in the China, Burma, India theatre as well as Africa, flying a B-25 in operational assignments over the Himalayans. After the war ended, he returned to marry Beverly Donalson Lewis on August 20, 1945. They returned to Mansfield Ohio, where he divided his time between Tappan Stove Company and the Air National Guard. After later returning to Birmingham, he served in the Air National Guard 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Fort Sumpter Smith where he and his bride had originally met. He was recalled to active duty in May 1951 for the Korean War until his return to Birmingham in 1957. He attended both U.A.B. and Howard College (Samford University). He was promoted to Captain as well as being employed at Hayes Aircraft until 1961. He transferred to Roanoke Electric Steel Corporation, Virginia and was an innovator of the continuous casting steel-making process brought back from Europe by his father-in-law. He was recalled for Active Duty for the Berlin Wall Crisis in Paris, France until 1962. In 1965, after 23 years of service, he retired from the United States Air Force as the rank of Major, having received the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal. He assisted in opening the first continuous casting steel plant in Harriman, Tennessee, serving as vice-president and opened a new facility in Newport, Arkansas, where he served as president. He and his family returned to Birmingham in 1971 where he worked for the Alabama State Employment Agency until his retirement in 1994. He served as a vestryman for St. Bede's Anglican Church from 1985-2000. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Beverly Donalson Lewis. He is the father of five children: Denise Lewis Harris, Donald Clark Lewis Jr. "Lucky" (Nancy), Ann Lewis Boone, E. Mark Lewis (Bee) and John M.D. Lewis (Laura) grandfather to fourteen, and great-grandfather to two. Services will be on Sunday July 22, at 2pm with burial in Jefferson Memorial Trussville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church he and his sons helped build, St. Bede's Anglican Church on Grant's Mill Road. c/o Father Bo Braswell at: 101 Silverleaf Ln. Alabaster AL 35007 Jefferson Memorial Trussville directing.