William R. Lewis

Caribbean Island of Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies, on the last day of the year, to Leonora

Jeffers and William George Lewis. He was an only son, with four (4) sisters: Myrtle, Midlane,

Lucy and Pearl.

William worked as a Senior Customs Officer, in the Customs Department in the Port of St. Kitts.

He welcomed four children in St. Kitts – Everton, Esmond, Nigel and Gerville (Peggy). William

began to grow restless since many of his friends started to leave St. Kitts to explore the world,

due to his sense of adventure he too decided to leave St. Kitts. In 1960, William emigrated to the

UK, initially flying into Ireland, and then onto Oxford, to reunite with old friends from St. Kitts.

A few months later, his girlfriend, Theresa Queeley, whom he met in St. Kitts, arrived in

Birmingham, to join her brother. One year later they married in Birmingham, and soon after,

moved to Oxford, to start their lives together and to create a family. They were blessed with three

(3) daughters born in Oxford – Jacqueline, Jennifer and Lisa.

During William’s time in Oxford, he worked initially as a Conductor on the Buses, and then

moved onto become an Engineer at British Telecom. However, he was forced into early

retirement earlier than planned after several years of service, much to his dismay.

In 1992, mum and dad decided to emigrate once again, but this time to the US, to be closer to

their extended families, who resided in New York City and Canada. They had a short stint in

Manhattan, NY, before later settling into their new life in Queens, NY, after purchasing their

home.

William continued his passion for horticulture by continuing to tend to his garden, and his hobby

of photography. William was an avid football (soccer) and cricket fan, watching his beloved

Arsenal football team, never missing a premier league match if he could help it and also

watching the West Indies verses England or India cricket test matches wherever he could. He was

also a follower of tennis, often attending the U.S. Open to watch live tennis in Flushing, Queens,

NY. At the age of 94, William maintained his love of knowledge, with a ferocious appetite to

read everything he could, to enhance himself and render an informed opinion on anything and

everything. He read his UK newspapers (which were delivered weekly directly from the UK) and

continued watching the news on his iPad (he was a news junkie), he received his first iPad at the

age of 90, and was reluctant to switch it off each night.

William is survived by his wife Theresa Lewis, his sons, Everton Lewis, Esmond Lewis, Nigel

Lewis, and his daughters Gerville (Peggy) Robinson, Jacqueline Lewis, Jennifer Lewis, Lisa

Lewis, his niece Helen Defraitas, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, and Great-Great

Grandchildren.

A visitation for William will be held Monday, December 20, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at R. Stutzmann & Son, 224 - 39 Jamaica Ave, Queens Village, NY 11428. A visitation will occur Monday, December 20, 2021 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, 224 - 39 Jamaica Ave, Queens Village, NY 11428. A visitation will occur Tuesday, December 21, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 224 - 39 Jamaica Ave, Queens Village, NY 11428. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, December 21, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 224 - 39 Jamaica Ave, Queens Village, NY 11428. A committal service will occur Tuesday, December 21, 2021 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Maple Grove Cemetery, 127-15 Kew Gardens Road, Kew Gardens, NY 11415.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in William's memory may be made to Rogosin Institute, https://rogosin.org/donate/tribute-gifts/.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.rstutzmannandsonfuneralhome.com for the Lewis family.