Charles William Lewis, 92, of Baker City, died Aug. 28, 2005, at his home.
His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Jack Bynum of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Ritualistic rites will be accorded by Blue Mountain Lodge, No. 34, AF & AM.
Private interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Charlie was born on May 7, 1913, on the family farm near Summerville, to James Lewis and Mertie Robbs Lewis. He had two younger sisters, Elva and Lila.
He attended grade school in the area and graduated from Imbler High School. While working for Safeway in the late 1930s he was transferred to Baker City where he met and married Grace Mineff. They had three children: Carolyn, Robert, and Joan. They had been married 63 years at the time of Grace’s death.
Charlie enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, but because of sun blindness he received a medical discharge. He bought Guyer Grocery in south Baker City during the 1940s and later changed the name to Lewis Grocery.
After selling the grocery, he worked for Pifher Brothers as a carpenter. In the 1970s, he worked for Bob Clemens constructing Boise Cascade Homes.
He was a lifetime member of the Baker Masonic Lodge and Baker Elks Lodge.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace; his son, Robert; daughter, Joan; and sister, Lila.
Survivors include his daughter, Carolyn, of Baker City; grandchildren, Desiree Wellman of Baker City, Tony Bloom of Dixon, Calif., Jordan Lewis and Erica Lodahl, both of Portland, and Elizabeth and Lea Croft of Baker City; great- grandchildren, Sasha Bloom, Matthew Bloom, and Luke and Cloe Lodahl; great-great granddaughter, Katie Bloom; and sister Elva Doud of La Grande.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker County Shrine Club, Pathway Hospice, or the Baker United Methodist Church through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, September 2, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor