Lewis Frederick Uhlendorff, 97
SMYRNA 3 Lewis Frederick Uhlendorff of Joe Goldsborough Road, Smyrna, passed away Monday August 7, 2023.
Lewis was born July 14, 1926 at the Flower Hospital in New York City, the son of the late Rev. Lewis Frederick and Helen Louise Gow. Lewis graduated from Smyrna High School in 1944 and obtained an accounting degree from Wesley College in Dover.
At age 26, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and served 32 years, attaining the rank of Major. He also joined the Delaware State Guards for 5 years and worked at the General Motors plant in Wilmington and the button factory in Smyrna.
On September 12, 1945 he married Margaret Elizabeth Kinsey and together they had two children; Connie Lee and Donald Lewis. When Lewis and Margaret were first married, they lived at 116 S. Delaware Street in Smyrna. Later, he built the home he lived in on Joe Goldsborough Road in Smyrna.
Lewis worked to achieve his insurance license and represented Federal Kemper Insurance Company. He worked for the State of Delaware as a Field Auditor and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for over 15 years. In 1952 he opened his own business, the Smyrna Insurance Service LTD for many years until merging with Pratt Insurance in Smyrna.
Lewis has always been involved with the church and has been a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Smyrna. Lewis served as an Adult Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, and Chairman of the Board of Directors.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Margaret Palmer and Donna Huber, son Donald and his first wife Margaret.
Several years later, while visiting his daughter and son-in-law in Winter Harbor, Maine, he attended church in Franklin Maine and met Ruth Souther Torrey. They were married on August 21, 2015 in Franklin Maine.
He is survived by his second wife, Ruth, a daughter Connie U Keen (Robert), three grandchildren Brooks Keen (Donna), Michael Keen (Melinda), and Jeff Dorman, four great-grand children, Ericka (Garret), Corey (Diana), Callie and Liam, and one great-great grand daughter Emory.
Services will be Monday, August 14, 2023 at 11 a.m. in the Faries Funeral Chapel, 29 South Main Street in Smyrna, where friends may call from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.. Pastor David Souder, of the Wesleyan Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Smyrna Wesleyan Church, 433 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, DE 19977.
Condolences may be sent by visiting www.fariesfuneralhome.com.