Tamra D. Lewis

TAMRA DELL (JOHNS) LEWIS, recently of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., died Tuesday, March 1, 2016, of natural causes. She was surrounded by her loving family during her final days. Born Dec. 4, 1932, in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Alexander Nicholas Johns, MD and Ruth Holmes Johns, Tamra spent most of her childhood in Toledo, Ohio. She was thrilled to become a big sister at age 7. She adored her brother, Alex, with whom she was close throughout her life. She was a top student academically as well as an accomplished pianist. During World War II, her family spent time in several southern cities while her father served as a physician in the U.S. Army. She met her future husband and love of her life, James Lee Lewis, Jr., at the University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Science with Distinction in Zoology. Upon her graduation in 1954, Tam and Jim married in Toledo, Ohio, while Jim was serving in the Army. They drove to California as newlyweds so Jim could finish his military service. "Their loving and strong relationship inspired many over the decades." Upon completion of their army life, she started her professional career as a junior high school science teacher in Michigan, supporting Jim as he completed his graduate studies. The young couple then settled in Fort Wayne, where Jim worked for Lincoln National Life Ins. Co. while she took a job at General Electric. She found a true calling when the couple started their family, which eventually included five children born within six years. She was an extraordinary mother, effectively running a bustling household and filling it with love, learning and warmth. In her gentle and patient way, she encouraged and taught her children to become the best they could be. She was an avid reader, birder, gardener, knitter, and music lover, passing along her passions to her children and grandchildren. She was always an active member of her local American Baptist church. She was also a member of Alpha Omicron Pi, the Infant Welfare Society Auxiliary of Wheaton, Ill., and P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter O of Newtown Square, Pa. Through her participation in the early 1970s in an experimental chemotherapy trial at the National Institutes of Health, she remarkably beat non-Hodgkins lymphoma. She voluntarily continued with the program for many years to help further the researchers' understanding of what was to become the standard for treatment of this now-curable cancer. Life's challenges inspired her to earn a Master's degree in Adlerian psychology. She then embarked on a 20 year career as a Licensed Psychologist, where she counseled hundreds of clients mostly in northeast Philadelphia, Pa. "Tam was a loving, devoted and successful wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, niece, aunt, teacher, counselor and caretaker. She is terribly missed by many." She is survived by her brother, Alexander Johns (Joyce) of Valley Forge, Pa.; sons, Dr. James Lee, III, (Dr. Cora "Beth") of Birmingham, Ala., David (Rebecca) of Fort Wayne, Dr. Stephen (Dr. Marcy) of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Michael Wood-Lewis (Valerie) of Burlington, Vt.; daughter, Susan Lewis-McClendon (John) of Wynnewood, Pa.; and her loving grandchildren, Kristan Walker (Jeremey), Jennifer Jackson (Ben), Megan, Alexander, Ryden, Amanda, Kimberlyn, Lilly, Madeline, Henry and Isaac; also many other loving relations. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 57 years; her dear grandson, Benjamin Wood-Lewis; and other loved ones. Funeral service is 11 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2016, at D.O. McComb & Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road, Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. Burial Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be sent to SCAN