Obituary: Lewis, R.H. “Bob”
Age 90
Robert Howard was born to J.T.
Jack and Florence Lewis on February 15, 1925 in Deer Park, Washington.
He and his brother Mel were raised throughout the North Idaho region.
In 1943 Bob graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School, where he was the North Idaho light-heavyweight boxing champion.
Immediately upon graduation Bob and his life-long best friend Charlie Mitson, joined the Army.
Bob served as a special-force-paratrooper in WWII, and earned several medals including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
After the war, he pursued his passion in writing, selecting the “best journalism school in the country” and graduated with two bachelors, in English and Journalism, from the University of Missouri.
There he met and married Peggye LoRene Thompson.
His first job was in Chicago as an editor for a trade magazine.
Bob and Peggye’s three children, Mark, Cheri and Jack were all born in Ill. After eight years, Bob and Peggye decided that they wanted a different sort of life for their children and moved back to Spokane where Bob worked at Lincoln First Federal Savings and Loan as VP and Director of Public Relations.
1964: Bob was elected to the Spokane City Council for an unusual 5 1/2-year term.
1972: Elected to the first of two terms in the State Senate.
One of his most proud accomplishments for Spokane was his instrumental part in helping businesses (not taxpayers) get the 1974 Spokane World’s Fair up and rolling.
Following his service in the State Senate, he served as the WA State Supervisor of Credit Unions and Savings and Loans, which led him to the presidency of the National Association of State Regulators and a more permanent move to Lacy, WA in 1980 with Peggye.
A “behind the scenes” glimpse at Bob’s perspective was a sign he had on a wall at home which said: “A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation”.
Bob devoted his life to his family and helping others.
Some of his favorite times were coaching Mark’s baseball and basketball teams, supporting Cheri in Girl Scouts and Jack in Boy Scouts and buying a Palomino for Cheri.
Frequent family trips always included educational games, historical stops and singing along the way.
He enjoyed golf, bridge and poker with his buddies at Manito and Olympia Country and Golf Clubs, and Panorama City in Lacey, WA.
He was a published author of books and magazines articles.
He spent a lifetime engaged in public speaking and anyone who knew him was graced with his stories about his colorful life and the family he loved so dearly.
After 37 years of marriage, Peggye Thompson Lewis was called “home” in 1986.
In 1987, Bob married his second love, Joanne Evans Lewis.
They where married for 17 years before she died of cancer in 2004.
Calling himself thrice blessed, in 2006, Bob married Nathalie Jewett Lewis, and is survived by her.
Mel, Bob’s younger brother pre-deceased him in 2012.
Bob’s greatest pride and joy were his three children: Mark Lewis, Cheri Lewis Folk, and Jack Lewis; and his grandchildren.
He is survived by all three children, their spouses, seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-law and many nieces, nephews, cousins including a “double cousin” and friends.
No service to be held - in lieu of flowers - please consider giving donations to the Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington, or the American Cancer society.