Rev. Dr. Lewis Franklin Archer

Lewis was born during the Depression in 1935 in Salt Lake City, Utah to O. Franklin and Mary Archer. His father’s occupation, as a Methodist minister, took the family to several small Colorado towns.

Lewis was a graduate of the University of Denver. He received his Masters of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkley, California. He earned a PhD in Religion and Literature from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

From 1957-1960 he was a Methodist missionary in South Africa. He learned the local Mozambican language so be able to teach the immigrant miners how to read and write in their own language. In 1960, he married Jean (nee Wurst) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Upon returning to the US, he completed his studies and became a professor of English, initially at Little Emory University in Oxford, Georgia. He spent the majority of his teaching career at Whitworth University, Spokane, Washington.

As a prominent local historian, Lewis often presented his research at the Historic Speakers Series held by the Mineral Springs Foundation and the Manitou Springs Heritage Center. He also taught classes in local history at PILLAR Institute.

Lew was also known for sharing his historic expertise as a guide for national bus tours that came through Manitou Springs, while wearing his singular Australian outback fedora.

Though his philanthropic work, Lew became known as “Santa’s Tallest Elf” by the Colorado Springs Kiwanis Club. He delighted many with his handmade wooden toys. As an avid woodworker he became ‘community craftsman’ by repairing, replacing, and crafting custom wood objects for anyone who requested his craftsmanship.

Often in Manitou Spring’s Carnival parade, Lew costumed himself as a Pope character who conferred blessings on all including pets, adults and children; to the pleasure of all.

Lewis is survived by his wife, Jean Archer; son, Robert Archer, of Spokane, Washington; daughter, Andrea Archer of Colorado Springs, Colorado; brothers, Lowell and Lloyd of Goleta and San Diego, California, respectively, and granddaughter, Skye Hunter- Archer of Nashville, Tennessee.

A celebration of Lewis’s life will be at 10am, Thursday, April 11th at Sunrise Methodist Church at 2655 Briargate Blvd., Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to:

• Wilson United Methodist Church, 6460 Flying W Ranch Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80919

• Manitou Springs Kiwanis Foundation, P.O.Box 248 Manitou Springs, CO 80829