Harold Eugene Lewis

Harold was born on July 7, 1933 in Dodge City, Kansas to Eugene Paul Lewis and Blanche (Rollins) Lewis. He graduated from Dodge City High School in 1951 and graduated from Dodge City Community College in 1953. He earned the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Arts degree in 1956 and a Master of Science in Trade and Technical Education degree in 1965 from Kansas State Teachers’ College at Pittsburg.

Harold began his teaching career at Stanley Rural High School from 1956-1960. He was designer and production supervisor for Adventure Line Mfg. Company in Parsons, KS from 1960-1963, and he was industrial arts teacher at Parsons Junior High School from 1963-1965. He was the industrial cooperative training teacher at Topeka High School from 1965-1968.

While teaching at Topeka High School, he organized a VICA club. He pioneered Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) in the state of Kansas. Kansas affiliated with National VICA as soon as Kansas was chartered in 1966. Eleven clubs, all cooperatives, launched Kansas VICA that year. Harold was named executive secretary of Kansas VICA in 1967 while still a teacher at Topeka High School and became the Kansas State VICA Director.

Harold was named to the National Staff of VICA in Falls Church, Virginia in 1974. Harold built what became The Skills USA Championships where students who were enrolled in high school and technical schools could compete for national and international recognition with their leadership and technical skills. Harold brought together industry volunteers whose companies donate equipment and materials and who serve as judges. The VICA Executive Director described Harold as being “instrumental in spurring this country’s participation in the International Skills Olympics.” VICA is recognized as the official U.S. representative in this event.

One of Harold’s closest friends and colleague for over 30 years watched him from a very close distance as he worked his way through life as husband, father, churchman, professional, in his friendships, and even in leisure, always as a Christian gentleman.

Harold married his childhood sweetheart, Fern Snowbarger, on June 8, 1953 in Dodge City, Kansas. They have five children: Carla Gleason (Dave) of Kansas City, Missouri; Annette Fields (Craig) of Springfield, Missouri; Eldon Lewis (Christi) of Olathe, Kansas; Monica Morgan (Robert) of Olathe, Kansas; and Bonita Simmons (Dick) of Leesburg, Virginia. The couple has fifteen grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren. His family treasures the many handmade wooden pieces of furniture and other keepsakes. Throughout their life together, Harold served God as an active member of the Church of the Nazarene.

Harold is survived by his sister, Clara Mae Beadle; his brother, Jim Burr; and his brother, John Lewis.

Visitation will be on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 10 am and service at 11 am at New Hope Church of the Nazarene, 4330 North Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64116. Inurnment at Johnson County Memorial Gardens at 3 pm at 11200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66210.

The 11 am Memorial Service will be livestreamed through the White Chapel Facebook Page and you are welcome to return to this page on the morning of the service to find that link.