Howell Sheppard Lewis

Howell S. Lewis died on Monday, June 17, 2013. He was born in Jenkins, Kentucky, on October 24, 1931, the son of the late B. Edison and Mary Earle Lewis. Mr. Lewis is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Jean M. Lewis, as well as by two daughters and their husbands, Donna L. and Jim McKinney of Greensboro, NC; and Mary Catherine and Bill Fralich of Yorktown, VA. He is also survived by three grandchildren whom he dearly loved, Jackie H. McKinney, William L. Fralich and Sarah J. Fralich. Mr. Lewis graduated from the University of Richmond, Class of 1952, where he was a member of the Alpha chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He served in the U.S. Navy, achieving the rank of Lieutenant JG while serving at Patuxent River NATC. He played on the NATC championship fast-pitch softball team as pitcher and first baseman. After leaving the Navy, Howell joined the Dow Chemical Company as an accountant. He remained with the company through its transitions from Dow Chemical to Dow Badische to Badische Corporation to BASF Corporation. He retired from BASF in 1993 after serving as Vice President of Planning and Controlling. Mr. Lewis was an enthusiastic athlete, enjoying many sports including tennis, golf, basketball, softball and ping pong. He was ordained as a Baptist deacon in 1958 and was a 40-year member of Walnut Hills Baptist Church in Williamsburg, VA where he currently served as a trustee. Howell was a 30-year member of the Williamsburg Host Lions Club and an enthusiastic member of Crown Colony, where he served as Treasurer. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 19 from 6-8 PM at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd, Williamsburg. A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, June 20 at 2 PM at Walnut Hills Baptist Church, 1014 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Online condolences may be expressed at www.nelsencares.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the General Endowment Fund at Walnut Hills Baptist Church.