Donald Lewis

In Loving Memory of Donald Howard Lewis

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Donald H. Lewis, 89, of Bermuda Run, North Carolina on December 24th, 2024.

Don was born on October 12, 1935 in Seattle, Washington to Elna and William D. Lewis and lived a full life of hard work and the pursuit of the American dream. Starting at age 6, Don became an accomplished piano player-demonstrating certain traits that would serve him well throughout life: discipline, creativity, connection, and poise. On September 7, 1947 he had an evening broadcast built around his performance on radio station KOL in Seattle for the Bookshelf Theatre program called "Life of Chopin." He also won a scholarship to Julliard, which he decided not to pursue.

Don graduated from Central Washington University (CWU) in 1957. He was self-made, starting his career in furniture sales and progressing to numerous Vice President of Sales and Marketing positions. Throughout his career, he lived in the Pacific Northwest, Southern California, and eventually Greensboro, North Carolina. In 1983, he decided to capitalize on the burgeoning overseas furniture manufacturing market and launched his own business - Lewis & Sons International, Ltd. to import furniture from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. His customers included some of largest and most respected names in the industry. It is remarkable to consider a man from humble beginnings as the son of a postal worker and a railroad ticket agent was traveling the world with a business that would be a part of his legacy. He worked with his two sons in the business, and Scott went on to purchase the company after he retired in 2003.

Don was known for his tenacity and determination to accomplish whatever he set his mind to. He really enjoyed socializing and entertaining, and he had several marriages and meaningful relationships in his life. Additionally, he enjoyed a lifelong passion for golf, starting as a caddie at a private club in Seattle and had a low single-digit handicap for much of his adult life. He also enjoyed the finer things in life, including food, clothes, automobiles, and was known to have his head turned by a pretty face. Don possessed both the skill and love for negotiating and the art of the deal (sometimes to the dismay of those he negotiated with).

In retirement, Don resided in Naples, Florida; Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, Virginia; Summerfield, NC; and finally Bermuda Run, North Carolina. He made many friends at Bermuda Village and cherished his final years there. He is survived by his three sons, Scott (Tracy), Steve (Tanya), Spencer (Hilary) Lewis, 5 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and his beloved cat Captain Asher.

A memorial service will be held at Bermuda Village, 142 Bermuda Village Dr in Bermuda Run on Sunday, January 12th at 2pm.

"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." -THOMAS CAMPBELL

"No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away." -TERRY PRATCHETT

"Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots -- but you have to play the ball where it lies." - BOBBY JONES.