John V. Lewis Jr., 80

CAMBRIDGE - John V. Lewis Jr., age 80, of The Neck District, Cambridge, died Friday, May 15, 2009, at Dorchester General Hospital. Born on Aug. 19, 1928, in The Neck District, Cambridge, he was the son of the late John V. Lewis Sr. and Naomi Rose Phillips Lewis. Mr. Lewis served his country in the U.S. Army Military Police from 1950-1953. On Sept. 6, 1953, he married the former Shirley Faye Hurley. Mr. Lewis was a communicant of St. John's Chapel, Cornersville, Cambridge. Mr. Lewis owned Lewis Drive Inn on Washington Street in Cambridge several years ago. He was the proprietor of the county's famous Lewis Store for 57 years. This country store offered Dorchester's Neck District community fresh produce, meats, groceries, gas and various unusual sundries. The store was just as known for Lewis University, which Mr. Lewis served as the Dean. This area is located in the far left back of the store where people shared and learned about life's experiences, stories and tales. It was the only place to go to seek such valued information. Mr. Lewis retired in May of 2004. Mr. Lewis was also a fifty year member of the Cambridge Masonic Lodge 66, A.F. & A.M., Past Grand Tall of Chesapeake Forest #115 Tall Cedars of Lebanon. Mr. Lewis was a member of the American Legion Post #91, Neck District Volunteer Fire Department and the Cambridge Yacht Club. He had also served on the Planning and Zoning Board for several years. As a younger man, he was an avid fisherman and hunter. Surviving is his wife of 55 years, Shirley Lewis of Cambridge; three daughters, Angela Jean Lewis of San Francisco, Calif., Julie Faye Lewis-Townsend and her husband Ray of Chestertown, Tammy Kaye Lewis Bramble and her husband Maurice "Cedar" of Cambridge; two grandsons, Derek Lewis Bramble and Wallace Jones, both of Cambridge; two sisters, Thelma Rock of Cambridge, and Betty Jean Brennan of Towson; brother, James Lewis and his wife Fran of Cambridge; sister-in-law, Charlotte Lewis of Cambridge; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bill and Joann Potter of Cambridge, Gary and Diane Hurley of Valley Lee, Warren and Diane Newcomb of Cambridge; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death besides his parents, was a brother, William "Bill" Lewis. The family will received friends Tuesday, May 19 at Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home, P.A., where a Masonic Service was held. Funeral services will be held today, May 20 at 2 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, located at Church and High Streets, Cambridge. Officiating at the service will be The Rev. Walter Reuschling and assisted by The Rev. Michael D. Reddig. Burial will follow at St. John's Chapel Cemetery, Cornersville-Cambridge. Pallbearers will be Radcliffe Wheatley, Art Wheatley, Chuck Wheatley, Maurice "Cedar" Bramble, Derek Bramble and Wallace Jones. Honorary Pallbearers will be Donald Webster and David Marshall, Sr. In lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be made in Mr. Lewis' memory to St. John's Chapel Scholarship Fund, c/o Mr. James Lewis, 1213 Hudson Rd., Cambridge, MD 21613. To send letters of online condolences, please visit www.curran-bromwell.com/obituaries.