Ruthy Jean Lewis

Mrs. Ruthy Jean Lewis, 77, daughter of Mae Ruth Gaston and Samuel Juniel was born on October 7, 1941 in Fordyce, Arkansas. She attended the public schools of Dallas County before leaving for California where she pursued and completed her training in Licensed Vocation Nursing at Contra Costa College. She was employed by Martinez County Hospital in Martinez, California.

She was introduced to the late Ernest G. Lewis Jr. of Harpers Ferry, WV by a dear friend she met at church while she was still living in California. They met, fell in love and were united in holy matrimony on November 8, 1972. They had one child together, Stephanie Lewis of Harpers Ferry. She retired from the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV after 40 years of nursing service.

Mrs. Lewis was a devout Christian and was active in the church her whole life. When she moved to West Virginia she found a church home at Wainwright Baptist Church. She was involved in many ministries, Bible education and was a deaconess. When she moved to Seattle her first priority was to find a place of worship she could call home. She found that home at Mt. Zion Baptist church. She immediately and eagerly participated in the life of the church in addition to studying the Bible with groups and mentoring.

She quietly departed this life Thursday November 29th, 2018 in Palm Springs, California. She was preceded in death by her stepson, William “Billy” Lewis, brothers, Robert Henry Gaston, Andrew Lee Gaston, Charles Gaston, sisters, Barbara Ann Smith, Altha Jean Brown, and her grandson, Dwayne “Dee” Lewis.

Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her children: Stephanie Lewis of Palm Springs, CA, Ernestine “Gwen” Lewis-Dunn of Martinsburg, WV, Janet Lewis of Jacksonville, FL, and Sandra “Honey Bee” Murphy of Clinton, MD; daughter-in-law, Erin Havel of Palm Springs, CA; son-in-law, Willie Murphy of Clinton, MD; grandchildren: John Hardy of Martinsburg, WV, Rene Lewis of Jacksonville, FL, Shawanga “JR” Burrell Jr. of Clinton, MD, Devra Sherman of Tampa, FL, Erin Carey of Martinsburg, WV and August Lewis Havel of Palm Springs, CA; sisters: Faye Gaston of Richmond, CA, Lenora Gaston of Richmond, CA, Gloria Juniel Suhail of Atlanta, GA, Margaret Juniel of Richmond, CA and Sharon Robinson of Richmond, CA; brother, Edward Juniel of Richmond, CA; sisters-in-law: Nancy Brown of Syracuse, NY and Vachele Lewis of Woodbridge, MD; brother-in-law, James Lewis of Woodbridge, MD and Ben’neel Suhail of Atlanta, GA; devoted family members: Pearly Kemp, Sacramento, CA and Edna Downey of Charles Town, WV and a host of precious great grandchildren (26), great-great grandchildren (5), nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She is deeply missed.

A visitation for Ruthy will be held Thursday, December 13, 2018 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Mount Vernon Memorial Park, 8201 Greenback Ln, Fair Oaks, CA 95628. A funeral service will occur Friday, December 14, 2018 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Mount Vernon Memorial Park.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MountVernonMemorial.com for the Lewis family.