David Wallace Lewis

David Wallace Lewis (October 3, 1946 - June 24, 2023) At 76 years of age, Dave was welcomed into heaven on June 24, 2023, after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He is survived by his wife Margaret Anne "Peg" Hepworth, after almost 55 years of marriage. Dave was born the youngest of three boys on October 3, 1946 in St. Louis, MO to Russell Bogan Lewis and Mary Frances "Mollie" Wallace. He lost his father in an automobile accident at 3 years of age. Dave was very proud of his mother who worked as a teacher and supported her three sons through college as a single parent. He loved and admired his older brothers and looked to them as role models his entire life. He especially treasured their golf trips together. He graduated from Normandy High School, St. Louis, in 1964 and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1968. He was a member of Delta Upsilon social fraternity and played the trombone in Marching Mizzou, where he and Peg first met. During college, Dave was enrolled in ROTC and he entered the U.S. Army in 1968 as a Second Lieutenant. He was stationed at Ft. Dix, NJ, and later served in the Vietnam War in the First Infantry and First Cavalry Divisions. In 1970, he returned to MU where he earned an MBA. Dave was employed at Stokley Van Camp in Indianapolis and later his career took the family to Denver, CO and Walla Walla, WA. In 1990, Dave and his family moved to Visalia, CA. The Visalia United Methodist Church was his church home for nearly 34 years, and he served on committees, sang in the choir, and participated in men's Bible studies. As a young father, Dave spent endless hours cheering for Ted and Kate during their sporting events and often served as coach, umpire or referee. He enjoyed playing golf and cheering for his St. Louis Cardinals baseball and MU football. Dave and Peg were married on September 22, 1968. He loved his new relatives, and the family farm in Callao, MO, became another home to him. Trips to the farm and the cabin in Minnesota, vacations in Europe and Mexico, and skiing with family enriched his life. Dave is also survived by his children Ted Hepworth Lewis and Mary Katherine "Kate" Lewis Jimenez (husband Jeff); his three granddaughters, Kate Linhares, Jocelyn Lewis and Mollie Lewis; his brother Claude Steven "Steve" (wife Felicia); his nephews John Russell "Russ" Lewis, Jr. (wife Rhonda) and Scott Bradley Lewis (domestic partner Bryan Scott Moore); and his sister-in-law Penny Hepworth Yates and her husband William 'Bill" Yates. Dave is predeceased by his older brother, John Russell Lewis (wife Gay), nephew Andrew Benton "Drew" Lewis (wife Amy Blansit), and his daughter-in-law Tessa Andrea Lewis. Dave was a gentle soul and a gentleman. He will be missed by family and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Visalia United Methodist Church on July 11, 2023 at 10:00 am. A luncheon will follow. Memorial donations may be made to the Visalia United Methodist Church, online or at 5200 W Caldwell Avenue, Visalia, CA 93277 or to the Parkinson's Foundation, online or at 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.