William Lewis

William Merlin Lewis, "Dub" was born in Lilbourn, Missouri to a large farming family, one of eight children; his own father being one of nine boys.

He attended school in Lilbourn. Dub entered into the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific during World War II. Upon returning, he married his sweetheart Ivadell Crawley and began his career in farming in 1945 in Lilbourn and Essex, Missouri. They moved their family to St. Louis for a few short years due to hard times. There he attended Pentecostal churches pastored by Pastors Harry Branding and Johnny Buckmiller and began his ministry as a Pentecostal preacher.

In 1961, Dub returned to Essex, Missouri to continue farming and ministry. In 1968, he and Ivadell moved back to Lilbourn to farm and became the pastor of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church where they had begun their Pentecostal experience in 1946.

Upon retiring in 1989, he moved to Baton Rouge, LA where his brother's family and three of his children were already residing. There he added another career, Investing and managing his own real estate. He loved people and was proud to be an Honorary Deputy Sheriff of Ascension Parish and Honorary Sheriff of Satsuma, where he resided the last year of his life. His priority continued to be in the service of the Lord at First Pentecostal Church.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 26, 2016 at First Pentecostal Church, 2828 Jones Creek Rd, Baton Rouge, LA, 70816, from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM. Visitation will resume on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 10:00 AM until service at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

He is survived by his sister, Wanda Vaughn of Baton Rouge; his five children, Garry Lewis and wife Gayle, Lanny Lewis and wife Valerie, Sherry McCoy and husband Darrell, Sheila Goins and husband Tom, and Kimberly Gibney and husband Mike; grandchildren, Carrie, Drake, Benjamin, Joshua, and Natalie, all children of Garry Lewis, Luke, son of Lanny Lewis, Michelle, Joel, Shara, Nathan and Jonathan, all children of Sherry McCoy, Krystal, TJ, and Kayla, all children of Sheila Goins, Daniel, Samuel, and Josiah, all children of Kimberly Gibney; great-grandchildren, Hunter Dexheimer, Lydia Parascandolo, Jordan Lewis, Madison Lewis, Caullin Lewis, Anna Lewis, Judah Lewis, Micah Lewis, Iva Lewis, Colston Deagano, McKyla Tuttle, Savannah Tuttle, Lewis Tuttle, Eden Tuttle, Jathan McCoy, William McCoy, Aubrey McCoy, Justus Powell, Zoey Powell, Jazlynn Powell, Esra McCoy, Paisley McCoy, Charlie Matthews, Christian Goins, Isabella Matthews, Ava-Claire Matthews, Louis Duncan, and Millie Duncan.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith Ivadell Lewis (2013); his parents, George and Bertha Lewis; sisters, Helen Benthal, Dona Tinsley, and Omigene Brower; brothers, George, Nathanial, and Charles; grandson, John Garry Lewis; and great-granddaughter, Vera-Grace Tuttle.

Family and friends may sign the online guest book or leave personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.

Visitation

First Pentecostal Church
2828 Jones Creek Rd.
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Friday, August 26, 2016
7:00pm - 9:00pm

First Pentecostal Church
2828 Jones Creek Rd.
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Saturday, August 27, 2016
10:00 am - 11:00 am

Service

First Pentecostal Church
2828 Jones Creek Rd.
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Saturday, August 27, 2016
11:00 am

Cemetery

Resthaven Gardens of Memory
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816