after a three-year struggle with cancer.
Ken was born on December 5, 1940, in Garden City, Kansas, to the late Dr. G. Kenneth and Ferne
Lewis. He grew up in Chicago and spent many hours boating on Lake Michigan. He attended South
Shore High School and studied chemical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.S.) and
materials science / solid-state physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Ph.D.). He
worked for E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company for 32 years, during which time he was involved in
development of materials such as Kevlar and Lycra. After retiring from du Pont in 2000, he pursued a
lifelong dream to teach, taking a faculty position at the School of Integrated Sciences at James Madison
University. Ken retired from teaching in 2011, though continued to serve as an emeritus professor until
his death.
Ken was sharp, witty, and had a devilish sense of humor. He enjoyed reciting favorite poems from
memory like the Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service, was always ready with a supply of (bad)
jokes, and never missed an opportunity to lecture his kids and others on the “importance of choices.” He
especially enjoyed his Johnny Walker Red at the end of the day, or Black, Gold, or Blue on special
occasions. It was a point of pride for him to know a friend’s favorite drink and always have it on hand.
He enjoyed putting up bottles of wine, but more importantly delighted in bringing out a bottle to
celebrate someone’s birthday or other notable events. He loved music, both listening to it and creating it.
He played guitar in his younger days and took up the hammered dulcimer later in life, attending several
dulcimer camps in the Appalachians and giving recitals at various venues around Virginia. He sang in
barbershop quartets and the Piedmont Virginia Community College chorus, delivered singing telegrams,
and participated in community musical and theatre performances, all of which brought him great joy
over the years. In addition, he was involved in other community activities, including membership in
Leadership Charlottesville Class of 2013.
In addition to his parents, Ken was preceded in death by his first wife, and the mother of his children,
Linda (TePaske) Lewis. He is survived by his adoring partner Sherry Prestwich (affectionately referred
to as his “Apple Dumpling”), his three children George Lewis of Anchorage, Alaska, Stephen (Michelle)
Lewis of Juneau, Alaska, and Heather Lewis of Seattle, Washington; his loving sister Linda (Ed) Hecht
of Tucson, Arizona; nephews Michael and David Hecht; his former wife Becky Rose; as well as many
cousins and dear friends, including lifelong best friends Jeff and Judy Fosbrook and Emmett and Peg
Hoebel; and Sherry’s sons Ken, Tom, Dan, and Ron Prestwich. Over his lifetime, he also had many loyal
and beloved dogs from Pete the Boston terrier, Porky the English bulldog, Gretchen and Elsa the boxers,
Kato and Dakota the Doberman pinschers, and finally Chloe, Sherry’s Wheaten terrier.
The family will hold a private gathering to honor Ken’s life. His remains will be cremated and interred at
a later date in a place he loved to share with Sherry.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions in Ken’s memory may be made to the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA.
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