Wilbur "Edward" Lewis

Edward Lewis, age 95, passed away on January 1, 2020 . The youngest of four children born to Taylor Bright Lewis, Sr. and Agnes Craiger Lewis, Ed grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, where he attended West End Elementary and West End High School. Driven from an early age, a paper route he began at age 11 sparked a love for business and entrepreneurship that would last a lifetime. He completed high school early by attending summer school at Phillips High School and at 16, enrolled at the University of Alabama. In March 1943, after the draft age had been lowered to 18 and his school quarter at the University had ended, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Ed wanted to be a fighter pilot and completed 10 hours of flight school, but he proved to be a natural marksman, and thus became an aerial gunner. Stationed in Bury St. Edmunds England, he was B-17 Tail and Turret Gunner in the Army Air Force, 94th Bomb Group, 410th Squadron and completed 30 missions over German targets. Ed was promoted to Staff Sargent and awarded 6 medals and 4 Bronze Battle Stars. He also was inducted into the Lucky Bastards Club, an organization that honored World War II European bomber crew members from the Eighth Air Force that completed 30 or more missions. Following the war, Ed returned to the University of Alabama graduating with a degree in Economics. He attended Columbia University School of Law until his last semester when he returned to Alabama to serve in the reserves. Completing his law degree at the University of Alabama School of Law, he graduated and was admitted to the State Bar of Alabama in 1951. He began his career working for the law firm of Martin, Turner and McWhorter (which later became Balch & Bingham LLP) where he was grateful for the mentorship he received from the firm's founder, Logan Martin. Still eager to operate his own business, in 1954 he started both a development and construction company and, along with his childhood friend, Charlie Speir, the law firm of Lewis and Speir. Over the next 25 years, Ed's companies developed land throughout the Southeast, constructing and marketing over 3,000 homes and developing over 4,000 residential lots. He expanded his business into commercial development; developing the Jackson Mall, and Holiday Inn hotels in St. Petersburg and Clearwater Beach, Florida and Slidell, Louisiana. Ed was a past President of the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders, the Alabama Home Builders Association, a Director of the National Association of Home Builders and was inducted into the Alabama Home Builders Hall of Fame. He was one of the founders and organizers of City National Bank of Birmingham and served on its Board of Directors, as well as on the Board of its holding company. Ed's sense of adventure began at an early age, evidenced by when he and his best friend, both age 14, hitch hiked to New Orleans to see the ocean, but arrived only to discover that you cannot see the ocean from there! His love of adventure continued throughout his life, especially travel, and he never hesitated to take all five of his children along, Always interested in flying, he obtained his pilot license in the 1960s and was a lifelong pilot. An avid sailor and snow-skier, he and his wife Betty enjoyed many decades of skiing with their family and friends at their home in Colorado, enjoying the sport into their 80s. A voracious reader, he was drawn to learning. Having a natural gift for mentoring, he shared his experiences in business with others throughout his life. A lover of all animals, he never met a dog that he did not like. Ed was a member of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society where he maintained friendships with many of his crew members and other members of the Mighty Eighth. A lifelong member of Toastmasters, an early member of The Club and a member of the Heritage Foundation, he also enjoyed participating in many other educational and public policy organizations. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Taylor Bright Lewis, Sr. and Agnes Craiger Lewis; brothers, Taylor Bright Lewis, Jr., James Craiger Lewis and sister, Frances Lewis Etheridge; children, Barbara Lewis Meredith, Stuart Randolph Lewis and Edward L. Lewis, as well as his wife Elizabeth L. Lewis ("Betty") and, first wife Doris Mayfield Lewis. A wonderful and adored husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he is survived by his daughters Linda Lewis Willms (David) and Debra Lewis Walker (Tom), eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews. A true gentleman with a sharp mind and a kind heart, Ed mastered every endeavor, treasured his family and friends, and lived fully. A family graveside service with military honors will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 11th at the Lewis family plot in Elmwood Cemetery. Dr. Anton Fourie will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society or the Eighth Air Force Historical Society.