Henry Lewis
January 5, 1922 — June 18, 2012
Henry H. Lewis, 90, of Peoria, passed away at 7:45 p.m. on Monday, June 18, 2012, at Proctor Hospital in Peoria.
He was born in Alton on January 5, 1922, the son of Claude and Mabel (Lorsch) Lewis. They preceded him in death, along with one sister.
Henry married Ruth M. (Gauwitz) Dunham on December 18, 1971 in Jacksonville. He was formerly married to Catherine E. McGinnis.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth M. Lewis of Peoria; son, Jeffrey H. (Mary Virginia “Ginger”) Lewis of Phoenix, AZ; daughter, Cynthia J. (Steve) Williams of Havre-de-Grace, MD; step-son, Rusty (Doris E.) Dunham of Peoria; sister, Martha Jean Lewis of Denver, CO; six grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
Henry graduated from Roodhouse High School and was a member of their Famous Five basketball team that participated in the Sweet Sixteen. After graduation, he attended Bradley University, where he played basketball. He was a long-time supporter of Bradley University and Bradley Braves Basketball, where he was a season ticket holder.
He was a World War II U.S. Navy Veteran, serving aboard the USS French in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre as a Machinist Mate 3
rd
Class. He was honorably discharged on April 7, 1946. He was enlisted in the Illinois Air National Guard from January 29, 1948 through January 3, 1950, earning the rank of Sergeant. He later served in the Korean War with the U.S. Army from February 2, 1950 through April 9, 1951, where he earned the rank of Corporal.
Henry had an amazing work ethic and was the current owner of Miller Door Company in Peoria, where he received several awards from Raynor Garage Doors and was one of their top ten distributors for three consecutive years. He was also well known for his woodworking, as the former owner and operator of Lewis Cabinet Shop in Peoria.
He was formerly a member of the Peoria Cosmopolitan Club, coached Peoria Biddy Basketball for over thirty years, supported all youth sports and enjoyed mentoring young business owners.
Henry also enjoyed fishing; baseball, especially as an eighty-three year fan of the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals; football; basketball; Big Band music; traveling; and spending time at sporting events and at his cabin in Victoria, IL.
There was a private visitation for the family at the funeral home on Thursday, June 21, 2012, with private services on Friday, June 22, 2012, with Pastor Scot M. Shelburne officiating. Interment and military honors were also on Friday, June 22, 2012 at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.
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