Richard  Lewis

Richard Lewis

1952 - 2019

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Obituary of Richard Lewis

Richard (“Don’t call me Dick”) Watkin Lewis Jr., of Tacoma, Washington, passed away on August 15, 2019 after a 15-month battle with mesothelioma cancer. Rick was born on December 20, 1952 to Richard Watkin Lewis Sr. and Edna (Annie) Leona Lewis. He was the youngest of their three children. Rick graduated from Lincoln High School in 1971. He graduated from Tacoma Community College in 1978 after serving in the U.S. Army. Rick began his career as a Local #7 apprentice in 1980, became a journeyman mechanic, and spent most of the next 39 years working in the insulation industry. During his years as an insulator, Rick also worked for The Boeing Company, worked as a safety inspector, and periodically worked in the office of Local #7. While working fulltime, Rick earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies from The University of Washington.

Rick is survived by his wife of 36 years. Rick and Diane’s life together began in 1977 when they met at Tacoma Community College. While dating for over six years, they became best friends. Their friendship began playing softball, tennis, biking, hiking, and running together. Their friendship turned into a marriage in 1983. Rick and Diane’s life together was a love affair from the day they met. Rick was devoted, caring, and proud as a husband and father of two. Ian Richard Lewis, his son, has grown to become a fine young man who possesses his father’s wit, charm, and passion for words. April Dawn Lewis, his daughter, has been gifted with her father’s athleticism, competitive nature, and a smile that lights up a room. Rick is also survived by his oldest sister, Sandra Baker, from The Villages, Florida, who will preside over the service to celebrate his life. He is now reunited with his sister, Merry Rainey, in Heaven.

Rick was an athlete. As a child, he regularly biked to the South End Boys‘ Club to play various sports. His first love was baseball. Over the years, he played hardball, slow-pitch, modified fastpitch, and umpired all the above. When he gave up umpiring, he coached the kids’ T-ball, coach-pitch, and softball teams. As the kids grew, the family vacationed, hiked, kayaked, and bicycled together often. When the kids left for college, Rick enjoyed watching sports on TV. He especially enjoyed watching the Seattle Sounders, Seattle Seahawks, and Seattle Mariners. He was a UW fan through and through. In recent years, he had the opportunity to cheer on his daughter, April, as part of the Seattle Grizzlies Australian Rules Football Club. One of Rick’s favorite past times was playing Fantasy Football in the WCFL. Another past time was to solve crossword puzzles, word scrambles, Sudoku, and the likes from the daily newspaper. Each new day was a challenge to perform better than the day previous, culminating on Sunday, the hardest day, when he completed his puzzles in ink. He completed his last New York Times crossword on August 11, 2019.

Rick had a “green thumb”. He enjoyed working in his yard year-round. Some of the most beautiful roses in the yard were gifts to Diane for her birthday, Valentine’s Day, or Mother’s Day. Countless times, Rick even put his garden expertise to use mowing the lawns of his mother’s neighborhood friends in order to further support his family (and stay in her good graces). The bountiful backyard oasis he helped craft with Diane, at their home is a living testament to this passion. Rick’s hobby was to create a yard full of beautiful flowers; however, in lieu of sending flowers in regard to his passing, please consider making a donation in his honor to Miles for Meso (https://www.curemeso.org/donate/donate-online/) or Asbestos Disease Awareness (https://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/donate).

Please join the family for a celebration of Rick’s life at the STAR Center, 3873 So 66th St., Tacoma, Washington on Sunday, September 8. The tribute will begin at 2:30. After various speakers, please join us with food, drink, and stories until 4:30.

Sunday
8
September

Celebration of life

2:30 pm
Sunday, September 8, 2019
Star Center
3873 S 66th St
Tacoma, Washington, United States