Raineld Eugene (Gene) Lewis Obituary (1925

Raineld Eugene (Gene) Lewis left us shortly after midnight on July 15th 2010. After a long courageous fight against leukemia, Gene passed quietly in his sleep at his West Bremerton home attended by his loving wife of 57 years and best friend Leota and daughter Geanne. Gene was a third generation Kitsap resident, the son of Thomas Lewis of Seabeck and Nettie Schold of Silverdale. Some of the first residents of Kitsap County, the Lewis family purchased a homestead in Seabeck in May of 1883 and the Schold's moved to a Silverdale homestead shortly after in 1894. Born in Bremerton on July 18, 1925, Gene and his three brothers and one sister spent their childhood in central Kitsap. He graduated from Central Kitsap High School in 1943 and was immediately inducted into the military joining the 42nd Cavalry Squadron - 981st Infantry Rifle Company. He served in England, France, Germany and Central Europe and was honorably discharged in 1946. He often told the story of returning from the military on the Seattle - Bremerton ferry. When the ferry came out of Rich Pass and he saw the Hammerhead Crane at PSNS for the first time in 2 years, he vowed to make his home in Kitsap Country and never leave again - a promise he kept for the rest of his life. After four years apprenticeship as a molder in the foundry, he graduated from the apprentice program at PSNS in 1953. That same year he met and married Leota Marie Reiter of Spanaway Washington. They made their home in Bremerton and had their only daughter Geanne Marie Lewis in 1954. In addition to his thirty years with the US government at PSNS, he was actively involved in the community. As a young man he was a member of the Active Club and performed many acts of volunteerism including site clearing for the "new" Harrison Hospital in East Bremerton and painting the original Kitsap Rodeo stadium. Gene was very active in the Kitsap County Fair and Rodeo and served in various capacities for over 40 years. He was a volunteer fireman with the Westgate Fire Department for 21 years and for a number of years held public office as a commissioner with the Rocky Point Water District. Gene also volunteered at the Harrison Hospital Foundation's Festival of the Trees for 22 years. Gene retired from PSNS in 1980 as a Metals Inspector General Foreman. For many years after his retirement, Gene volunteered at Saint Vincent de Paul with his dear friends Martin Devitt and Harry Morris. Gene loved to solve mechanical problems and was a kid in a candy store there. He repaired lawn mowers, chainsaws, weed whackers and anything else that captured his imagination. Gene loved square and round dancing and was a founding member of the Paws and Taws Square Dance Club. He was a member of the club for 54 years where he held various offices as well as performing duties at the Kitsap Square Dance Hall in Gorst. His other hobbies included camping, auto mechanics, working on projects in his shop and checking out the samples at Costco. His first battle with cancer was won in 1984 and he was involved in a cancer support group at Harrison Hospital for many years. He also regularly walked the survivor's lap of the Kitsap Relay for Life. Gene is survived by his wife and daughter, brothers Larry (Betty) Lewis of Mason Lake, Roland (Josie) Lewis of Broomfield Colorado, sister Audrey (Leroy) Michaels of Kelso, Washington, his many nieces and nephews including Todd McFadden of Kapowsin, WA. who provided strength and comfort in Gene's final days. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues and many friends including best friend Duane Wells of Kalama, WA. He will also be missed by his grand-dogs Holly & Ted. A Celebration of Gene's Life will be held on July 21st beginning at 1PM at the Kitsap Square Dance Hall (6800 W. Belfair Valley Road, Gorst WA). All are welcome to attend and pay their respect. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Saint Vincent de Paul of Bremerton or the Hospice of Kitsap County.