Samuel B. Lewis, “Junior” 89, of Center Point, Iowa, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on December 23, 2014, after a brief illness. The family will greet friends and relatives from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on January 5, 2015, at the Center Point United Methodist Church in Center Point, Iowa. The service will be held at the Center Point United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Mike Ellson and Ken Graham officiating. Burial: Center Point Cemetery.
Junior was born to Samuel Benton Lewis, Sr., and J. Leone (Rawson) Lewis on October 27, 1925, in Covington, Iowa. He was a member of the United Methodist Church almost all of his life. Following his graduation from school in 1944 in Center Point, he went into the Army and served in Guam during the Korean War. He began working as a trucker with his father, a carpenter, until he went to work at National Oats and worked there for 33 years and was also a school bus driver for Center Point School District simultaneously. Upon retiring in 1990, he took up the hobby of building vintage model trucks of wood. This included a model farm for his great grandson and a school bus for each of his children. On June 1, 1951, he married the love of his life Dolores Schoettmer at the Van Horne EUB Church in Van Horne, Iowa. They made their home in Center Point for over 63 years. Sam and Dolores celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June 2011 but had been married this year for 63 years. Together they had four children, Doretta (Lewis) and Brady Kunz, North English, IA; Rodney and Tina (Longo) Lewis, Virginia Beach, VA; Sheri (Lewis) and David Harris, Alice Springs, Australia; Jeff and Stacey (Davison) Lewis, Sioux City, IA.
He is survived by his wife, Dolores, his sister, Laurel Lea, Center Point and his brother-in-law, Leo Frederick, Lisbon. Sam had fourteen beautiful grandchildren, Katrina (Kunz) and Garth Spore, North English; Shawn and Cara Kunz, Ladora; Kelly (Kunz) and Jason Jones, Williamsburg; Samantha Lewis, Virginia Beach, VA; Brandy Longo, New York, NY; Joshua Harris, Los Angeles, California; Sammy, Calvin, Nicholas, Madison and Thomas Harris, Alice Springs, Australia; Ashley, Alec and Alee Lewis, Sioux City. He also had nine great grandchildren, Danielle, Madeline, Leighton, Alyssa, K.C. Jeanne, Rilie, Emmalee, Jaly and Nathaniel who were the joys of his life. Sam was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Lyle, and his sister, Collette Frederick.
Sam spent his days as Deacon and Trustee of his church and played piano. He also sang with and played the saxophone for The Community Singers. He also served with the Board of Adjustments in Center Point. One of the loves of his life was his hobby of model building and drawing pictures of his vintage trucks.
In lieu of flowers a memorial in Sam’s memory has been established.