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Donald S. Lewis
05/01/1918 — 11/08/2003
From Richland, WA, US | Born in West Chester, PA
Donald S. Lewis
Donald S. Lewis passed away on November 8, 2003 at Kadlec Medical Center. Don was born and raised in West Chester, PA. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and then started his career in the nuclear industry. He moved to Richland in 1944 and was a shift supervisor when the B Reactor went critical. Don was the manager for operations of the startup of DR, KW, and N Reactors. He retired from United Nuclear Corporation in 1987. He was well-liked and respected by those who worked for him and with him.
Don was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church, serving the parish as a lector, Parish Council Chairman, and CK School Board President. He was also a member of St. Vincent de Paul and Legion of Mary. For over 30 years he was a leader in the Cursillo Movement.
After retirement, Don was an active member of the Richland Kiwanis Club.
Don was a sports enthusiast and an avid water skier and snow skier. He was known for giving a one dollar bill to anyone who got up on water skis behind his boat.
Above all, Don was an exceptional husband and father. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; daughter Meg of Kirkland, WA; son and daughter-in-law Tom and Suzanne of Fishers, IN; grandson Zachary Donald of Fishers, IN; sisters Barbara Zengel, Jane Jordan, Phoebe Ruggeri, and brother John Lewis all of Pennsylvania; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Rosary will be Tuesday, November 11at 5 p.m. at Einan's Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church on Wednesday, November 12 at 11 a.m.
Memorials may be made to the Monsignor William J. Sweeney Endowment Fund, Christ the King School, 1122 Long Avenue, Richland, WA 99352 or to the American Cancer Society, P O Box 277, Richland, WA 99352.
Gary just called with the news of Don’s death,and I want you to know that my heart goes out to all of you. My thoughts and prayers are with you all, as they have been for the past several weeks. May you celebrate his life and be at peace with the knowledge that he truly is now with Almighty God. Take good care of each other and God Bless -love, Jeremey
To: Peggy and Family
I remember Don with fond and admirable thoughts. We worked together for 25 years. He was not only an excellent co-worker, always doing his share, but a very inovative person with a wealth of knowledge and experience to keep us all going in the right direction. I remember our skiing trips. Don was always the first one down the hill. He used to make a “yip” or “hip” noise each time he turned. So, in the rare occaison that he got behind you, it was a warning to get out of the way! I will miss him too.
My Very Best Regards and Deepest Sympathy,
John Bolliger
I first met Don while he was a student on the NS Savannah. I told him I wanted a job at Hanford and he told me he was not allowed to recruit, but he would answer any questions. I was working at N-Reactor 4 months later July 1963. I always enjoyed working with Don and he always had time for me. I had a chance to go work at WPPSS when they had only 40 employees. I decided to talk to Don about it. He said that it sounded like a good opportunity, but he had plans for me at UNC. I stayed and never regretted it! One very enjoyable period was when we were in the same carpool. The discussions in the car were always interesting and usually educational. One day, Don was driving and we liked that because we got to drive into the protected area. That day when we met at the car, well past quiting time, the key was in the ignition and turned to “on”. But the car was not running! It had been running all day and all the gas was gone. We kidded him that not only did he refuse to shut down the reactor, but he didn’t even shut down his car! It doesn’t seem possible that he was sick for two years, because I remember seeing him out at Horn Rapids many times and it didn’t seem like it was that long ago. I guess it is all relative, when I saw Megan today, my memory was of a 4 foot tall, bright eyed little girl out on the river with her Dad. I can still see her flaming red hair, and Don’s fatherly smile. We will all miss him very much! Tom
Many fond memories of working with Don on Kiwanis projects and joining him on golf course.
Len Gustafson
Just wanted you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. I have fond memories of Uncle Donald especially our summer at Richland and our trip to Washington DC.
It was always a special event whenever Uncle Don came from Washington to Pennsylvania to attend a Lewis family picnic.
A favorite picture we have in our family room is of Uncle Don with his brother and sisters, walking the Cape May, NJ beach, as teenagers in the 1930’s.
Our loving thoughts & prayers are with you all. Take solace in the belief that he is now watching over you all from above.
Gary just called with the news of Don’s death,and I want you to know that my heart goes out to all of you. My thoughts and prayers are with you all, as they have been for the past several weeks. May you celebrate his life and be at peace with the knowledge that he truly is now with Almighty God. Take good care of each other and God Bless -love, Jeremey
To: Peggy and Family
I remember Don with fond and admirable thoughts. We worked together for 25 years. He was not only an excellent co-worker, always doing his share, but a very inovative person with a wealth of knowledge and experience to keep us all going in the right direction. I remember our skiing trips. Don was always the first one down the hill. He used to make a “yip” or “hip” noise each time he turned. So, in the rare occaison that he got behind you, it was a warning to get out of the way! I will miss him too.
My Very Best Regards and Deepest Sympathy,
John Bolliger
I first met Don while he was a student on the NS Savannah. I told him I wanted a job at Hanford and he told me he was not allowed to recruit, but he would answer any questions. I was working at N-Reactor 4 months later July 1963. I always enjoyed working with Don and he always had time for me. I had a chance to go work at WPPSS when they had only 40 employees. I decided to talk to Don about it. He said that it sounded like a good opportunity, but he had plans for me at UNC. I stayed and never regretted it! One very enjoyable period was when we were in the same carpool. The discussions in the car were always interesting and usually educational. One day, Don was driving and we liked that because we got to drive into the protected area. That day when we met at the car, well past quiting time, the key was in the ignition and turned to “on”. But the car was not running! It had been running all day and all the gas was gone. We kidded him that not only did he refuse to shut down the reactor, but he didn’t even shut down his car! It doesn’t seem possible that he was sick for two years, because I remember seeing him out at Horn Rapids many times and it didn’t seem like it was that long ago. I guess it is all relative, when I saw Megan today, my memory was of a 4 foot tall, bright eyed little girl out on the river with her Dad. I can still see her flaming red hair, and Don’s fatherly smile. We will all miss him very much! Tom
Many fond memories of working with Don on Kiwanis projects and joining him on golf course.
Len Gustafson
Just wanted you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. I have fond memories of Uncle Donald especially our summer at Richland and our trip to Washington DC.
It was always a special event whenever Uncle Don came from Washington to Pennsylvania to attend a Lewis family picnic.
A favorite picture we have in our family room is of Uncle Don with his brother and sisters, walking the Cape May, NJ beach, as teenagers in the 1930’s.
Our loving thoughts & prayers are with you all. Take solace in the belief that he is now watching over you all from above.
Many, many, many fond memories of a loving and supportive Brother-in-law, Godfather and Uncle!! Our thoughts and prayers to Peg, Meg, Tom, Suzanne and Zach.
A true gentleman and a life well lived.
I got to know Don when he did some work after retirement reviewing some old Hanford records. Being about 25 at the time I enjoyed so much his sharing of history, stories, and occasional tale from a “Hanford old-timers” point of view. I only knew Don for about a year, but I’ll remember him fondly.
Growing up I remember Uncle Donald as one of the cool Uncles. It was always interesting talking to my Father’s “Big Brother”. Dad sends his best. Dad was talking about growing up with his brother and the times spent in Cape May as kids. Please accept our deepest sympathy and know that all are in our prayers
Please know that Don and his family are in our prayers.
We are thankful to Don for his years spent keeping the Cursillo Movement alive in the Yakima diocese. Don was a good and inspirational man.
A wonderful Uncle. Many happy memories of visiting him in Richland even though I never got that dollar because I failed to get up on those water skis behind his boat!
Warmest thoughts and fondest memories from a loving sister.
He was the best ever.
Uncle Donald was the closest person to a saint that I ever knew.
I deeply regret that distance prevents my attending the services to say a final good-bye to this wonderful man.
Sending my deepest sympathy and loving thoughts to Peggy, Meg, Tom and Suzanne.
My sympathies go out to Aunt Peg, Meg, Tom and family and also to the Lewis clan as I know they are deeply saddened by the loss of their wonderful brother.
I appreciate Dons support of my baseball program. From talking with Meg I know that he must have been a great father. Our love and prayers go with him and his family.
Peggy & family: I have fond rememberances of Don from my early days of Cursillo1974.I will rember him to Our Lord on my weekly hour of adoration @ St. Joseph’s in Kennewick. George
My memories of Uncle Donald are of the good times that we had when he and the family came to Pennsylvania to visit and when Mom and I came to Washington. He was such a nice man, and I’m already missing him. I’m so sorry for your loss, Aunt Peg, Meg, Tom, and Suzanne. I wish I could be there to give everyone lots of hugs and kisses.
My fondest memories of Uncle Donald are as a little girl of 6 yrs old. We spent the summer at Richland. My deepest sympathy Peg, Meg, Tom and family
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Donald S. Lewis