George W. Lewis' Obituary
George William Lewis, M.D., age 83, died on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother. He was unfailingly kind and patient, and he enjoyed a good meal, especially when accompanied by a beer. He was an avid sailor and loved to travel. He was an enthusiastic horse rider and tennis player and enjoyed hiking through the mountains of North Carolina. But mostly, he loved his wife and children, and was loved by them. He will be missed.
Dr. Lewis was born in Grosse Point, MI, the son of the late Ralph St. John Lewis and Mattie Mae Toy Lewis. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX in 1956 and received his MD from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD in 1960. He earned a fellowship from Johns Hopkins to study in his specialty, infectious disease, and spent 2 years in Calcutta, India.
In 1965, Dr. Lewis moved to West Simsbury, CT, and served as an Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
He moved to Lakewood, NY, in 1975 and served as the Director, Family Health Center, Jamestown General Hospital from 1975 – 1993, and was named President of the Medical Staff there.
In 1993, Dr. Lewis moved to NC with his wife, Valerie, and was employed as an Emergency Physician first at Coastal Physician Services in Durham and then at Cabarrus Emergency Medicine Associates in Concord.
Dr. Lewis is survived by his wife, Valerie Openshaw Lewis, children; Leslie Lewis of Peterborough, NH, Christopher T. Lewis, M.D, of Pensacola, FL, Samantha Lewis of Ayer, MA and Michael Terenzini (Laura) of Pensacola, FL; stepchildren; Christopher J. Skuggen, Heather Skuggen both of Jamestown, NY, Hilary Tantillo (Steve) of Rochester, NY, Jennifer Skuggen of Asheville, NC, and a sister, Anne Frame (William) of Redwing MN, nine grandchildren, Brianna, Douglas, Christopher, Valerie, Jupiter, Michele, Sienna, Savanna, Spencer and several nieces and nephews.
An opportunity to gather together with the family will be held from 3:30 – 5:30 pm, Friday, March 30, 2018 at the family home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Doctors Without Borders, PO Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD or to Best Friend Pet Adoption, PO Box 5305, Cary, NC 27512.
James Funeral Home is assisting the family and condolences may be sent to our website at www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.
What’s your fondest memory of George?
What’s a lesson you learned from George?
Share a story where George's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with George you’ll never forget.
How did George make you smile?