Marwood Dean Lewis

CAPT Lewis was born and raised in the town of Milbank, South Dakota. He was eleven years old when his father, who was Sheriff of Milbank, was shot and killed in the line of duty in 1941. He graduated from Milbank High School in 1948 and immediately joined the United States Navy. He completed his service as a Naval Officer with 39 years of active duty, including four commands. He was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars. In 1952, he was selected as an AM2 for the Blue Angels Enlisted Flight Crew. He was selected for the Seamen to Admiral Program in 1957, and was commissioned as an Ensign. His first command was as the Commanding Officer, NAFAC, Cape Hatteras (1967 - 1969). Captain Lewis served three tours in Vietnam; his last tour was as the Air Ops Advisor for COMNAVFORV. He returned to the States with orders as Commanding Officer of Naval Recruiting District Denver, Colorado (1972 - 1974) leading it to become the top Recruiting District in the nation. He was the Commanding Officer, VXN-8 in Pax River, Maryland (1976 - 1977), and was then selected to attend the Naval Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama where he graduated and was subsequently selected as Captain. In 1980 he received orders to the staff of Chief of Naval Education and Training and assigned as Head of NJROTC. He departed Pensacola in 1984, with orders as Commander Fleet Activities, Okinawa, Japan. Captain Lewis retired in 1987 with 39 years, 2 months and 23 days of happy and continuous active duty service.

After retiring, Captain Lewis continued his love for golf, fishing, and hunting. He was famous for his charming demeanor, quick wit, keen sense of humor, and his love for the United States Navy. He is survived by his loving wife, Carol Lewis, his daughters Susan Bearden, Dianne Schultz, Jeannie Ritter, and Tonya Milkie, sons Mick Lewis, Jon Hernandez, and Doug Hernandez, 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and his brothers Neil Lewis and Larry Lewis.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:30 P.M. Thursday, January 4, 2018 at the All Faiths Chapel, NAS Pensacola with The Reverend Susan Sowers officiating. Burial to follow at Barrancas National Cemetery. Family and friends should be present at Oak Lawn Funeral Home no later than 12:00 P.M. in order to process to NAS.