Lewis O. Wilkes, Jr.

Lewis O. Wilkes, Jr. passed away peacefully on Friday, July 3, 2015, of complications from Alzheimer’s and Leukemia.  Born December 15, 1924, he was 90 years old.  Graveside services will be held Friday, July 10, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in Pioneer Cemetery under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home.

Lewis had a rich, full life.  He was a surveyor, watch repairman, jewelry and furniture storeowner, Texas farmer, aeronautical engineer, who worked on ejector seats for one of the Gemini missions, and middle school math and science teacher.  Additionally, he served in the Texas Army National Guard during the Korean War.

His love for adventure started when he was just a teen. He traveled around Texas and even hitchhiked to California in the 50s passing through Phoenix on the way. That thumbs-up journey would be the impetus for his move to Arizona in the early 60s.

He was an avid motorcycle rider, touring most of Arizona.  He suffered a severe accident in 1975, which cost him his lower left leg. Despite needing a prosthetic leg, however, it was hard to keep pace with Lewis. Even into his 70s, you could still find him on a roof making repairs to a rental property or for a neighbor.

Lewis had a passion for music and taught himself to play the guitar when he was young.  That passion was reignitedwhen he was in his 70s. He wrote many songs and would include them in his performances at various retirement homes. At the age of 88, his family took Lewis and his band into the recording studio to record an album of Bluegrass songs he had written.

Lewis was a very outgoing man with a great sense of humor. While he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease late in life, he remained happy and bright to the end.He was kind and extremely generous.  He loved God, Country, and family. He will be sorely missed.

Preceded in death by his parents Lewis and Elizabeth Wilkes of Graham, he leaves behind a brother, six children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his beloved cat Sunny.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in the name of Lewis Wilkes to:

Hospice of the Valley Fund Development, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014, http://www.hov.org/donate

or

Alzheimer’s Association, Desert Southwest Chapter, 1028 E McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006,  http://www.alz.org/dsw/in_my_community_donate.asp.