Wilbur Lewis

Dr. Wilbur H. Lewis of Tucson, AZ passed away peacefully Sunday, July 17, 2011 after a sudden illness. His wife, Jean E. Lewis was at his side. The youngest of eight children, Dr. Lewis was born in 1930 in Belmont, Ohio to Lilly Dunfee and Charles Lewis. Lewis graduated from high school in 1948, attended Miami University in Oxford, OH. and finished his Bachelor's degree at Ohio State University in 1951. In 1953 he entered the U.S. Army, and was stationed in Germany until 1956. He left the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. Lewis was a math and science teacher in southeastern Ohio before enrolling at Ohio University for his Ph. D in curriculum and instruction. He was an active member of Phi Delta Kappa. As a teacher trainer and curriculum expert he, his wife and five children moved to Ibadan, Nigeria in 1964 where Lewis spent two years training teachers. The family returned in 1966. Lewis worked as High School Principal in Athens, OH and Wilmington, OH. In 1968 Dr. Lewis was appointed Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Parma, OH where he developed one of the most comprehensive and successful vocational education programs in the United States. Lewis also became Superintendent in Parma during which time he was appointed by Presidents' Nixon, Ford, and Carter to serve on the National Advisory Council for the Education of Disadvantaged Children. Lewis accepted the superintendency in Tucson Unified School District in 1977, but was forced to leave due to life threatening heart problems. After regaining his health he became a small business owner, operating a restaurant in El Con Mall for ten years with his family. Lewis served as consultant to AZ School Boards Association assisting districts with programs and personnel work, was Superintendent of the AZ School for the Deaf and Blind and continued consulting work until recently. He will be remembered for his many years of service working to obtain equal access to high quality public education for all children. Dr. Lewis was a Paul Harris Rotarian Fellow, a Mason, and a Shriner. He is survived by his loving wife, Jean Etta Lewis (nee Kinker); siblings, Charles Lewis Jr. and Anna Dee Costine; children, David Lewis (Sue) of White Rock NM, Dee Faigin (nee Lewis) of Laguna Niguel, CA, Denise Harlos (nee Lewis) of Minneapolis (Paul), Dawn Lewis of Santa Fe, NM as well as ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His family will remember his tremendous love of RV travel and sailing his catamaran, "Chicken of the Sea". He will be greatly missed by friends and his loving family. Services to be held at Catalina Methodist Saturday, July 23, 2011, 2:00 p.m. with a future Memorial Service in Belmont, OH. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Dodge Chapel.