Our Eastern Shore has lost someone very special.
Thomas Ray Lewis Jr, (Ray), (Fig), age 69, of Eastville, VA, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Sentara Norfolk General on Saturday, January 24, 2026. He was born in Nassawadox, Northampton County, VA, on December 23, 1956, to the late Lorna June Kellam Lewis and the late Thomas Ray Lewis Sr. Ray's life passion was digging bottles & collecting & selling antiques. He never knew a stranger & if you were to venture into his shop of 37 years, Capeville Flea & Antiques, you were sure to get a smile, a treasure & a history lesson of the Eastern Shore & the item that you chose!
Ray enjoyed setting up at bottle shows. He also added much history with information & items to the Historical Society of Virginia & the Barrier Island Museum here on the Eastern Shore. He was also an expert on sea glass & at the shows would let you know what kind of glass you have and date it for you.
Another great love of Ray's was the Grateful Dead. He made many lifelong friends from the hundreds of Dead shows that he enjoyed. Many took a ride in his iconic Just Passin Thru van back in the day.
Ray was a member of Eastern Shore Van Club that raised a lot of money for our community.
Ray also achieved the great honor of Eagle Scout & God & Country Award.
Ray is survived by his sisters, Terri Mullen (Kermit), and Beverly Walker (Tom); nieces, Jennifer Crumb (Joe), Becky Crumb (Ray), Summer Walton (Chris), Emily Burke (Bryce); and nephews, Colton Collins, Nick Collins (Haylie) & Kai Glasco. Though Ray never married or had children, he loved spoiling all of the above as well as his great nieces and nephews, Ethan, Aubrianna, William, Levi, Nikolai, Lani, Wyatt, Emery, and Amara.
Ray had a special love for animals & his beloved kitty, Sparkle, who slept on his head every night.
Ray leaves behind many special friends, Russ, Rick, Laura, Charlene, Tira, Robert, Dale, Bob, Maryann, Phil & Anne, who stuck with him through his time at home just to name a very few.
We would like to thank Ray's neighbors, members of the rescue team & all of those that gave him such special care at Sentara Norfolk General to help let him slip away in comfort and peace.
We will be having a memorial service of celebration in late spring so that his many friends and loved ones can attend from all over the country. That date will be given at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, Ray would like any donations to go to Eastern Shore S.P.C.A., Inc., PO Box 164, Onley, Virginia 23418 or the Neuter Scooter, 3040 Holland Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23453.
FARE THEE WELL RAY, HE ENJOYED THE RIDE!
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www. Doughtyfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements made by Doughty Funeral Home in Exmore, Virginia.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3117 Main Street, Exmore, VA 23350

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