Bill D. Lewis

Funeral services for Bill D. Lewis, Sr., 90, of Lufkin, will be held Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel in Lufkin with Dr. Andrew G. Pittman officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.
Mr. Lewis was born March 2, 1921 in DeKalb, Texas, to the late Artie Odessa (Pinkham) and Johnny Justice Lewis. He was married to Viola Anderson on April 11, 1942. Mr. Lewis died Saturday, May 7, 2011 at his residence in Lufkin.
After moving to Lufkin in 1946, he opened Lewis Furniture Company, which was in business for 61 years until it closed in 2007. He was a founding member of the Angelina County Sheriff?s Posse and the Angelina County Mounted Patrol. Mr. Lewis was a great influence in bringing the rodeo and rodeo stars to Lufkin. He served his country as a Seaman First Class in the United States Coast Guard. Mr. Lewis was a member of Lufkin?s First Baptist Church, and had lived in Lufkin for the past 65 years.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Viola Lewis of Lufkin; sons and daughter-in-law, Roy Dale and Debbie Lewis, and Bill D. Lewis, Jr., all of Lufkin; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and George Wright of Lufkin; grandchildren, Kristy Wright of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and Ryan Lewis of Lufkin; sisters, Evelyn Karrh of Lufkin and Gladys Peyton of Shreveport; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Mr. Lewis was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Clara Hall, Estelle Shelton, Florence Carpenter and Christelle Liles; and brothers, Lawrence W. Lewis and Weldon Lewis.
Pallbearers will be Ray Baldwin, Larry Karrh, Larry Lewis, Byron Reinecker, Donnie McAdams, Jack Gorden, Richard Taylor and Rick Meadows.
Honorary pallbearers will be Al Plyler, Bob Brown and Jim Harris.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 106 E. Bremond, Lufkin, Texas 75901; or to the charity of your choice.
Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.
Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, local directors