Lew was born on June 14, 1935 in Richmond, Virginia, son of the late Henry Lewis Faulkner, Sr. and Edna Willis Dutton Faulkner.
Lew's parents returned to Rocky Mount, North Carolina when he as an infant. He was raised there and graduated from Rocky Mount High School. After attending college at North Carolina State, Lew worked in the family business, Faulkner Electrical Service, for a couple of years. He returned to college for a semester at the University of South Carolina before beginning his lengthy career.
Lew married Louise Smith on December 1, 1962, being married for more than 55 years, and who survives him. In addition, his survivors include sons Bruce (wife Cherie) of Raleigh and Scott (wife Carolyn) of Holly Springs, as well as Scott's daughters Gail and Rebekah whom Lew adored as a doting grandfather. Two of Lew's brothers also survive him: Thomas Faulkner of Durham, NC and John Faulkner of Rocky Mount. Lew's parents and one brother, William Faulkner, predeceased him.
For most of his career, Lew worked as a typewriter and computer repairman. He enjoyed working with his hands and solving problems. He worked for IBM for 35+ years from November 1956 until retiring in December 1991, although he worked as a supplemental employee there into the summer of 1992. Lew was especially proud to have received four "IBM Means Service" awards during his career.
Lew often said he would never retire and that he planned to "drop dead on the job." True to his word after leaving IBM, he worked for the Duke University Medical Center Pathology Department doing computer repair from February 1993 to June 2004 when he actually did retire, much to everyone's surprise.
Lew served his country in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, rising to the rank of Corporal. He then enlisted in the regular United States Army, where he served on active duty from March 1958 to January 1961 in a Nike-Hercules missile battery providing air defense for Washington, DC. While in the US Army, he rose to the rank of SP-4 (Specialist 4) and was honorably discharged.
He regularly attended Sunday School at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church in Cary for much of his adult life. In addition, Lew was an Eagle Scout and he served as Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scouts of America Troop 210 for several years when his sons were in the Boy Scouts. In addition, Lew belonged to the Civitan Club, and he was active in the Cary Senior Computer Club for many years after his retirement.
A dedicated family man, Lew was a loyal, devoted, and loving husband and father who made taking care of his family a top priority. Lew worked hard, and he believed in doing quality work. He enjoyed working with his hands, and he worked on many projects over the years at home and in the yard.
Lew had an amazing sense of humor--he both loved to laugh and to make people laugh. He always found ways to joke with people, and he would try to bring a smile to their face. He was just fun to be around.
Lew's family will receive friends on Monday, October 22 from 7:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home at 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC 27511. A memorial service celebrating Lew's life will be held at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 23 beginning at 1:00 p.m. to be followed immediately with a burial service at Raleigh Memorial park.
In lieu of flowers, Lew asked that memorial contributions be made to one of the following organizations: Greenwood Forest Baptist Church of Cary, NC; the Salvation Army of Raleigh, NC, or Transitions LifeCare of Raleigh, NC.
