Paul M. Lewis, Sr.

Command Chief Paul McGehee Lewis, Sr., USNR (ret.), 79, passed away on September 12th, 2016 after a long illness. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, September 18, 2016, at Wilkerson Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Lattimer, Father Frank Seabo and Paul M. Lewis, II officiating. A private burial will follow in the family cemetery with Military Honors performed by the Rockingham County Honor Guard. Paul was born in Rockingham County, NC on June 27, 1937 to the late, Lee Lawson and Fannie Roberts Lewis. A lifetime resident of Bethany, Paul graduated from Bethany High School in 1955. He served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1960 on the USS Boston as a machinist mate. He transferred to the U.S. Naval Reserve and continued to serve his country for 35 years as an intelligence specialist. His career culminated as the Command Chief of the Reserve Intelligence group at Norfolk, Virginia. He continued to serve the local community as a member of the Rockingham County Honor Guard for over 15 years and as one of the driving forces behind the Veterans Memorial Park in Wentworth. Paul was blessed with a large and loving family. He married Patricia Ryder Lewis on November 26, 1960. He raised his six children with patience, discipline and humor. Being a life-time farmer and 4-H volunteer, he taught them the value of hard work on the family farm. Along with his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Patricia; his grandson, Nathaniel Sharp Lewis; and siblings, Lee Lewis, Jr., Mary Skidmore, Betty Ann Miller, Martin Lewis, Ruby Finlen and Esther Dickerson. Paul is survived by his children and their families, Paul M. Lewis II and his wife, Therese’ and their children, Latham Dewey, Natalie Livedalen and John, Patty Isley and her husband, Scott, Peter Lewis and his wife, Kellye and their children, Anna and Andrew, Phillip Lewis and his wife, Leslie and their children, Emily, Zachary, Abigail and Caroline, Peggie Lewis Joyce and her husband, Todd, Paige Lewis and his wife, Lela McCollum-Lewis and their children, Claire Grace, Sophie, and Lucy Eliza; his great granddaughter, Evangeline Livedalen; sister, Peggie Roberson and her husband, Kennon; and a large extended family. In lieu of flowers, please send your donations to the local VFW Post 2574 or the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center Camp Endowment. The family would like to express their special thanks to the Palliative Care Unit at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center. The family will receive friends Saturday, September 17, 2016 at Wilkerson Funeral Home from 4:00 – 6:00 PM. Wilkerson Funeral Home is assisting the family and condolences may be made to the family at www.wilkersonfuneral.com.