William D. Lewis, Sr. Obituary (1939 - 2017)

William David Lewis Sr. was born April 8, 1939 in Halifax, North Carolina. He entered into eternal rest on May 29, 2017. He was proceeded in death by his mother, Marietta Lewis, father Perry Demery, brother Henry Lewis and sister Corrine Mansfield. William grew up in North Carolina and as a young man worked on several family farms. In 1956 he moved to Richmond Virginia and began working to support his family at the Virginia State Highway Department. In later years he was employed by the Richmond Galvanizing Company and he retired from the Richmond Deep Water Terminal after committing over 20 years of faithful employment. William was very creative and was known for using his ingenuity. In 1975 was instrumental in the development of the "Spin A Batch" which was used to remove excesses zinc coating from small pieces of metal. The process he helped to create was so effective he traveled to several states and Canada demonstrating the product for the Richmond Galvanizing Company. William loved to fish either salt or fresh water, it mattered not as long as he was fishing. He always loved fishing and spending time on one of the several fishing boats he owned over the years. He enjoyed drawing and passed this gift to his oldest son William Jr. William Lewis is survived by his wife of 62 years; Shirley Mae (Gary) Lewis, brother James Lewis and sister Emma Demery, children William Lewis Jr. and wife Ardine Marie, Randolph Lewis and wife Tanesha Lewis, Eddie Lewis and wife Marci Lewis, Kelvin Lewis and wife Loretta Lewis, and daughter Sheila Wood. Grandchildren: Wilford Mayo, LaSheria Wood, Eboneki Akhibi, Latavia Lewis, Lynnay Lewis and Sharday Lewis, EdQuina Bradley, Eddie Lewis Jr., DeShawn Lewis, Kelvin Lewis Jr. (the late Kelli Lewis), and a host of other great grand-children, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.