Edward J. "Ed" Lewis

Edward J. Lewis of Kalamazoo, MI

Ed Lewis, age 85, of Kalamazoo, MI, died Saturday morning, August 17, 2013 at his residence and surrounded by his loving family.

Ed, the son of Jasper A. and Hazel Blanche (Grant) Lewis, was born on November 10, 1927 in Solon Township, MI and moved to this area in 1960. He was a 1946 graduate of Cedar Springs (MI) High School; served his country honorably at the end of World War II as a Corporal in the United States Army and played on the Army baseball team at Ft. Lawton. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Central Michigan University in 1952 and also played on the college's baseball team. Ed retired in 1990 from the Right of Way Division of the Michigan Department of Transportation after 35 years of faithful service. He then was employed as a courier for the Michigan Commerce Bank in 1997 where he looked forward to seeing both customers and the bank staff each time he worked until 2011. Ed enjoyed gardening, bird watching, playing a round of golf and following the Detroit Tigers, but his true passion in life was his family.

On July 14, 1951 in White Cloud, MI, Ed was united in marriage to the love of his life, the former Beverly Nelson. Surviving is his wife of 62 years, Bev; his two daughters, Colette Lewis (Paul Ballard) of Kalamazoo and Michele Boone (Jon) of Asheville, NC; his son, Douglas J. (Christine) Lewis of Wilmington, NC; seven grandchildren, Brian Lewis, Debora, Chase, Andrew, and Allie Boone, Samantha and Maxwell Lewis; five great grandchildren, Alyssa and Ayden Lewis, Marcelo and Juliana Green and Aries Archer; by four sister-in-laws and two brother-in-laws. Ed was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Christopher Edward Lewis on August 23, 1986; three sisters, Helen, Margaret and Jane and by three brothers, Kenneth, Raymond and Paul.

The Funeral Service to celebrate Ed's life will be held on Wednesday, August 21st at 10:30 a.m. at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Richland Chapel, 9170 East D Avenue (M-89) with the Rev. James P. Dyke , Pastor of the St. Andrew Community Church of Kalamazoo, officiating. A continuation of Ed's life celebration will immediately follow the funeral service at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue for a time of fellowship and a luncheon. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI, with the United States Army Honor Guard and the Fort Custer Honor Guard bestowing full, Military Honors. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 20th from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in Ed's honor may be directed to Hospice of Southwest Michigan, 222 N. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 100, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 or the Ministry with Community, 440 N. Church Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.