Dewey E. Lewis, age 85 of French Lick, passed away at his residence Nov. 18, 2019. He was born Dec. 27, 1933, in French Lick to Dennie and Irene McCune Lewis. He married Mary F. Wininger on Nov. 11, 1952, and they later divorced. He then married Joyce Evans Dalton in September 1973, and she preceded him in death on Nov. 1, 2015.
He attended French Lick High School and enlisted in the US Navy at age 17. He earned a National Defense Metal, a Korean Service Metal and a United Nations Service Metal before enlisting in the US Army three years later. He graduated from Military Police training in 1956 and the Maryland Police Academy in 1962, serving as a military police officer until his retirement in 1973 as sergeant first class, with 10 of those years being overseas. He earned four Good Conduct Metals, six service stripes, a National Defense Service Metal and an Armed Forces Expeditionary Metal while in the Army.
He was a former French Lick Chief of Police, former security guard at French Lick Springs Hotel and NWS Crane, as well as the former owner of The Fish Hut and The Sugar Shack. He also sold insurance for several years.
He was a proud member of French Lick Masonic Lodge 586.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Lewis; both parents; and one infant son, Gary Dean Lewis.
He is survived by his first wife and mother of his children, Mary Lewis of Paoli; four daughters, Melanie “Gale” Bright, Paoli, Dewetta Kenney, Paoli, Dena (C.B) Deaton, French Lick and Rhonda (David) Bullington, Marengo; one step-son, Mark (Elizabeth) Dalton, French Lick; one step-daughter, Michelle (Rick) Beaty, West Baden Springs
10 grandchildren, Tracy (Zeb) El Barbary, Tammy Gehl, Tanya Hinds, Matthew Moore, Dena (Jeff) Schaech, Ginger Parks, Jacob (Misty) Bergman, Dusty (Jessica) Lewis, Amanda (Sam) Vernon and Ashley Bullington.
Step-grandchildren surviving include Tiffani (Brady) McGee, Kaci (Thomas) Stephens, Tyler Cox, Derek Dalton, Travis Dalton, Destini Dalton, Dylun Gaddis and Nick Gaddis and Evan Dalton.
Sixteen great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, 12 step-great-grandchildren and several cousins also survive.
A Celebration of life will be held 2:00 PM Saturday November 30, 2019 at the American Legion, Post 76 in French Lick, Indiana located at 8595 W Main St, French Lick, IN 47432.
Online Condolences may be made at www.Dillman-Scott Funeral Home.com
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Dewey Lewis, please visit our floral store.