Harry James Lewis, 89

VIOLA - Harry James Lewis was born May 3, 1917, in Viola, to the late James Henry Lewis and Madeline Scott. He departed this life peacefully Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, in Silver Lake Nursing Home, Dover. He was 89.

During his childhood he was educated in the public schools in Viola.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served from Feb. 1, 1943, to Dec. 18, 1945. He received an honorable discharge upon his departure from military service.

He married Joyce Hawkins in 1989 and enjoyed many years of gratifying companionship with her.

Harry was a small business owner and retired in 1999.

He was a true outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening. He was excellent with his hands and enjoyed fixing things. Harry was a good family man and friend. He extended his hands to help anyone he could, including many young men and women that he mentored over time. He had a warm sense of humor and could be firm when he felt strongly about something.

Harry was preceded in death by his parents, James and Madeline Lewis; and his stepdaughter, Teresa Gaston.

He leaves to cherish his memories his loving and devoted wife, Joyce Lewis of Woodside; two daughters and a son-in-law, Joyce and Wayne White of Dover and Chaneta Harris of Camden; a godson, Ronald Thorpe of Dover; and a goddaughter Esther Brown of Dover; one sister, Mary Abrams of Viola; two grandsons Jeffrey Winchester and Derone Daniels, both of Dover; two granddaughters, Nadine Demby of Seaford and Cerarea Demby of Woodside; seven great-grandchildren; three devoted friends, Frederick Roberts, Samuel "Garfield" Daniels and Sylvia Sudler, all of Woodside; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the M.F. Chase Unity Memorial Church, Star Hill, where friends may also call two hours prior to the service.

Interment will be in the Delaware Veterans Cemetery, Bear, at 1 p.m. Monday.

Arrangements are being handled by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.