Rodney A. Lewis

Rodney Avery Lewis, Sr. began and ended his earthly life at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, MI. He was born on April 19, 1932. His death occurred on September 25, 2010. He was the youngest of seven children, born to Rankin and Valeria Lewis. Rodney was a 1951 graduate of J.W. Sexton High School and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He was honorably discharged in 1953; returning to Lansing to work with his father and brothers in their trucking business, Rankin Lewis and Sons. Rankin Lewis and Sons Trucking Company was the largest waste disposal company in Lansing until 1975, when it was sold to the Granger Company. Rodney retired from the Granger Company in 1997.

Rodney’s activities included delivering Meals on Wheels, membership in the NAACP, the Esquires Social Club, and his health club activities. He had a passion for water activities at the family cottage in Idlewild, MI, and at his cottage at Lake Isabella, MI.

Rodney was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers: William Rankin, Boyd, and Richard; his sisters Catherine and Shirley, and his son Russell. Surviving are his wife and best friend for 43 years, Janet Smith Lewis, sister Susan Gill, special sisters-in-law Juanita and Virginia, his children and grandchildren. Rodney will be greatly missed by his cousins, William Rankin, Ralph, Reggie Riddle, and Annette and Edward Eustace. Also, lamenting his death will be a number of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

One of Rodney’s greatest blessing was his children: Laurie Cenales (Victor), of Odenton, MD, Russell (deceased), and Joaquim Cinque (aka Rodney Jr.) (Celia) of Murphy, TX. He was “Grandpa” to Amanda and Adrian Boyer, Alia and Aaron Rankin Lewis-Cenales, and Xavier and Emile Cinque.

Rodney’s life was filled with blessings. He was a “life force” who attracted people in very positive ways. He traveled the world and found friends everywhere he went. Throughout his life Rodney brought love and kindness to all who knew him. For those of us left behind, our world without him will never again be quite as bright or loving.