Walter Henry Lewis, Sr. of Blacksburg was born in Radford on July 24, 1926, and passed away May 31, 2020, at the age of 93. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter James Lewis and Lillie Mae Lewis of Radford. He was also preceded in death by sisters Carrie Brown and Ivory Lee Booth and a daughter, Jacqueline Eaves.
He is survived by his wife, Myrtle I. Lewis; a sister, Catherine Delaney of Radford; daughters Rev. Vera Worthy (Richard) New Castle, Del., Rev Shelia Bradshaw (Harold) Lakewood Ranch, Fla., Marilyn Saunders Fairborn, Ohio; his sons, Walter H Lewis Jr, (Bobbie), Nashville, Tenn., Rev. James Maszerine Lewis (Linda), Milwaukee, Wisc.; grandchildren Paul Saunders II, Brian Saunders, Karen Eaves, Stacy Hodges, Ceteka Gooch, Walter Lewis III, James Lewis, Jason Lewis, Jamon Lewis, Marilyn Lewis, Kathy Parmley, Kelly Mobly, Paul Mitchel, Kim Bradshaw and Christopher Bradshaw. He leaves behind 26 great-grandchildren, seven great-great- grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and adopted children too many to count.
Walter was a Navy veteran of WWII. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church, Radford, where he served as a deacon, Father of the Church, in the male chorus and served on a number of committees up until his death.
He was a graduate of the Christiansburg Institute and Past President of the Alumni Association and held various positions within the organization. He was a Past President of St. John Masonic Lodge #35. He retired from Virginia Tech and Verizon. He served at the head of the Lewis Family.
Funeral services were held Friday, June 5, 2020, at 1 p.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. C. Coles Casey officiating. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions attendance was limited to 70. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.
