Charles Lewis

SPRINGFIELD - Charles Edward Lewis, 77, formerly of Sikeston, died at 10:35 p.m. Nov. 4, 2001, at his home, following an extended illness.

Born Aug. 11, 1924, in Springfield, son of the late Otis E. and Eva M. Lewis, he was a 1942 graduate of Republic High School. He served with the U.S. Army 612 Engineers Corps during World War II and was the recipient of the Bronze Star. He graduated from OAMI and worked in office machine sales and service in Ohio, Texas and Kansas before accepting employment 1956 with Superior Business Machines in Sikeston, and became co-owner of the business in 1959. In 1974, he returned to Springfield and was employed as commissioner for the Green County Public Water Supply District No. 10 in Battlefield. Lewis was later a resident inspector for sewer projects in Reeds Springs and Fordland and returned to Public Water Supply District No. 1, where he worked until retiring in 1991.

A member of Masonic Lodge 310 AF&AM in Sikeston and American Legion Post 676 and VFW Post 4593, he was commander of American Legion Post 114 in Sikeston in 1969 and worthy patron of the Sikeston Chapter Order of the Eastern Star in 1972. A member of the Sikeston Junior Chamber of Commerce, he was also involved with the Sikeston Little Theater.

In 1947, he married Vivian Frazier.

He later married Mary Lou Harker who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: one son, James Edward Lewis of Springfield; one daughter and son-in-law, Janice Kay and Michael Day of Madison, Wis.; three stepdaughters and a son-in-law, Rita Lochner of Everton, Nancy Smith and Tricia and Kenneth Anderson of Springfield; two brothers, Jack Lewis of North Richland Hills, Texas, and Guy Lewis of Tulsa, Okla.; and three grandchildren, six stepgrandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two stepgreat-grandchildren.

Services were conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Meadors Funeral Home in Republic.

Burial followed with military honors in John's Chapel Cemetery in Ash Grove.