LEWIS, Dr. Wilbur H. of Tucson, AZ, formerly of Belmont, OH, passed away Sunday, July 17, 2011 after a sudden illness.
Dr. Lewis was born in 1930 in Belmont, OH, a son of the late Charles Lewis and Lilly Dunfee Lewis.
He graduated from high school in 1948, attended Miami University in Oxford, OH, and finished his Bachelor's degree at Ohio State University in 1951.
In 1953 he entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany until1956. He left the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant.
He was a math and science teacher in southeastern OH before enrolling at Ohio University for his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction. He was an active member of Phi Delta Kappa. As a teacher trainer and curriculum expert he, his wife and five children moved to Ibadan, Nigeria in 1964 where he spent two years training teachers. The family returned in 1966.
He worked as high school principal in Athens and Wilmington, OH. In 1968 Dr. Lewis was appointed Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Parma, OH where he developed one of the most comprehensive and successful vocational education programs in the United States.
Lewis also became Superintendent in Parma, during which time he was appointed by Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter to serve on the National Advisory Council for the Education of Disadvantaged Children. Lewis accepted the superintendence in Tucson Unified School District in 1977, but was forced to leave due to life threatening heart problems. After regaining his health, he became a small business owner, operating a restaurant in EI Con Mall for 10 years with his family. Lewis served as consultant to AZ School Boards Association assisting districts with programs and personnel work, was Superintendent of AZ School for the Deaf and Blind and continued consulting work until recently. He will be remembered for his many years of service working to obtain equal access to high quality public education for all children.
He was a Paul Harris Rotarian Fellow, a Mason, and a Shriner, and served his country in the U.S. Army.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Darrin Lewis; sisters, Mary Fisher and Edna Budd; and brothers, Chester Lewis and John I. Lewis II.
Surviving is his wife, Jean Etta Kinker Lewis; son, David (Sue) Lewis, of White Rock, NM; daughters, Dee Faigin of Laguna Niguel, CA, Denise (Paul) Harlos of Minneapolis, Dawn Lewis of Sante Fe, NM; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; sister, Anna Dee Costine; and brother, Charles (Barbara) Lewis, all of St. Clairsville, OH.
His family will remember his tremendous love of RV travel and sailing his catamaran, "Chicken of the Sea".
A memorial service will be held, Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Belmont United Methodist Church with Reverend Theresa Bobot officiating.
Entrusted to: Kelly Kemp Braido & Patron Funeral Home.
