March 31, 1926 ~ June 15, 2014
Ralph E. Lewis, age 88, of Lawton, passed away on June 15, 2014, in a Lawton nursing home, following a lengthy illness.
He was born March 31, 1926 in Oakland, California to Anthony B. Lewis and Bertha A. Busch.
After graduating high school in Oakland, Ralph married Audrey L. Hoffman in Reno, Nevada in 1944; they were married for 69 years before Audrey's death in 2013. The couple moved to Lawton in 1995 to be closer to their two daughters.
Ralph served in WWII as a Tech 4 - Radio Operator, Truex Air Field, in Madison, Wis., later transferred to the US Army infantry in the Philippines and was one of the first waves to reach Japan. As a civilian, he worked in construction and as a car salesman for many years in California.
He is survived by one brother, Donald Lewis, of Pleasanton, Calif., and one sister, Sylvia Betts, of Oregon. Ralph is also survived by his three children: daughter Toni L. Smith of Lawton; daughter Robin E. Contois of Lawton; and a son, Craig M. Lewis and wife, Paula, of Minden, Nevada. Ralph is also survived by six grandchildren: Tami Roeseler of Coarse Gold Calif.; Janet Pesl, of Salinas, Calif.; Christopher Contois, of Providence R.I..; Danielle Murray of Joplin, Mo.; Scott Parker of Lawton; and Matthew Smith of Texas. Other surviving family members include ten great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
Ralph is preceded in death by his wife, parents, two sisters, Barbara Katt and Winnifred Lomas; and one brother, Herbert Lewis.
An online guest book may be signed and condolences sent by visiting www.whineryhuddleston.com