Alton Dyce Lewis

On Thursday, July 10, 2025, Alton Dyce “Walkie” Lewis was gently taken by the hand of our Savior Jesus Christ and led to the same Paradise that HE promised a thief who was crucified on a cross with HIM at the time of HIS crucifixion.

He was born on April 8, 1935, a lifetime resident of Dinwiddie County, and was preceded in death by his beloved parents Arthur Benjamin Lewis and Martha Adele Lewis and four brothers, Wilbert W. Lewis, Russell D. Lewis, Arthur C. Lewis and Samuel J. Lewis, Sr.

A graduate of Dinwiddie County High School in 1954, he made it no secret that he was the Captain of the 1954 Dinwiddie High School Baseball Team with the top batting average of .407 in their championship march to win the Dinwiddie High School District C Group III Baseball Championship. A newspaper article at the time states “Lewis’ plate work included three homers.”

Walkie loved his country, serving with honor and pride. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on February 5, 1958, completing basic training at Fort Hood, Texas and then serving in Incheon, South Korea receiving an Honorable Discharge on February 5, 1960. Assignment was continued in the U.S. Army Reserves until January 31, 1964. Most of his working years were at the Petersburg branch of the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company. His family was, and should be proud, that FOUR of the Lewis boys received Honorable Discharges from the U.S. Army.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Nancy Nanny Lewis of DeWitt. He also leaves behind three nephews; Samuel Joseph “Jay” Lewis, Jr. and wife Sheri of Petersburg, John Lee Lewis, Sr. and wife Diane of Church Road, Paul Vincent Nanny and wife Julie Ann of Midlothian; brother-in-law, Vincent Evans Nanny and wife, Patricia of Chester; niece, Lauryn Davis Nanny Stewart and husband Ian of Richmond; and a great nephew, Landon Robert Nanny. The Barbara Caudill Family, Tonya and Brian Dempsey, Susan and “Chuck Parrish family, Michelle and John Edmunds family, and Vicki and Dennis Bridgeman family, Bill and Terri Driskill, and his lifetime friend of 70 years, William Driskill, they had a special place in his heart.

He loved spending time outside with his annual tomatoes, his golf cart, piddling in his storage shed, spending quiet solitary time and at times considerable louder times with friends in his garage known as “Walkie’s Hideaway”. He had a passion for GMC pickup trucks. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting, was very mechanically inclined and could fix nearly anything that was broken. He even built his own home and garage.

He cherished time spent at Emerald Isle, North Carolina, NASCAR in the old days visiting almost all the racetracks on the east coast with his beloved racing buddies and enjoyed a special bond with the members of the Dundas Hunt Club.

Walkie lived a full and spirited life. He lived life by his favorite song, “I Did it My Way.”

A special appreciation for the Amedisys Home Health Care of Crewe, Virginia, and the Crater Community Hospice. Special thanks to the dedicated care givers Gloria Tucker, Tracey Johnson, Verna Chambliss and his trusted Primary Care Physician, Dr. William Phipps.

A chapel funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Crater Road Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Home at 3935 Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23805, officiated by Aggie Walker CRE (Pastor). The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Active pallbearers are Dennis Bridgeman, Jay Edmunds, John Edmunds, Vincent Edmunds, Scott Lewis, Paul Nanny, Chuck Parrish, and Stan Winfield. Honorary pallbearers are Billy Bain, William Driskill, Bucky Johnson and Billy Lewis.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that memorial contributions be made to Crater Community Hospice, 3916 S. Crater Road, Petersburg, VA 23805, in gratitude for their compassionate care

Until he meets all those he loves again – Toodle loo.

Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.