Elmer Olin Lewis, Jr.

Beginnings

Elmer Olin Lewis, Jr. was born at home on October 5, 1946 in the town of Edwardsville Illinois. His father, Elmer Lewis, Sr., worked at Granite City Steel, his mother Vivian Rice worked in hospitality and design. Elmer grew up with his brothers Masun (Jeff) and Greg, and his sister Sherri. His parents divorced and remarried, and Elmer was later blessed with additional siblings (George, Leslie, Daryl, Kevin, Gary, Angie, Ronnie, and Jessie).

Elmer spent much of his childhood with his maternal grandparents, Henry and Alice Rice, on their small farm in Edwardsville. To those who knew Elmer, he spoke fondly and often about his time in that home, and about Granny and Grandpa Rice, attributing many of his core values to them. As a child, Elmer grew up playing, fishing, and hunting in the nearby forest and farmland with his brothers and his cousin, Roger, calling themselves the “Bayou Boys.” In high school, Elmer became passionate and skilled as a freestyle wrestler for the Edwardsville High School Tigers. Upon graduating from High School, Elmer enrolled in Southern Illinois University where he studied for 2 years; however he left the University in 1968 to enlist in the Navy to support the Vietnam War effort. Thus, Elmer continued a family tradition of veteran military service.

Military & Career

Upon enlisting in the Navy, Elmer was stationed in San Diego, CA. It was his first time seeing the ocean and he immediately fell in love with “America’s Finest City.” Elmer first served as a yeoman and later joined the Beach Jumper Unit, where he became skilled at parachute-based entry of foreign shores. Elmer always spoke with pride about his Beach Jumper Training while stationed in Okinawa, Japan and at the Naval Amphibious Base on Coronado Island, San Diego. After completing his 4 year-term with the Navy, Elmer worked for San Diego Gas and Electric; first as a ditch-digger, then an electric lineman, and eventually as an electric troubleman. His work was technical, dangerous, and grueling. He handled high-voltage lines and equipment while suspended 30 ft above the ground, was often on-call all hours of the night, and often worked long and irregular shifts to address power needs and emergencies. But he loved his work and was proud to serve his community, ensuring that families had power and that his city kept running. Elmer worked for SDGE for 42 years, retiring in 2012 with a flawless safety record.

Family

In Dec 1968, shortly after moving to San Diego, Elmer was introduced to Sheila Mae Steele. He kissed her for the first time that very New Year's Eve. Over the next couple of years, their relationship continued to develop, and they were married on Dec 4, 1971. Together, they built a family that includes their 3 children, Ginger, David, and Levi (and their spouses Bill, Tiffany, and Corina); 6 grandchildren (Chris, Gabby, Jacki, David Jr., Christian, and Evie); and 2 great grandchildren (Fabian and Jaxon).

Church

Elmer grew up attending the Wesley Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Edwardsville, Illinois which, to this day, prominently showcases the names of his great grandfather (Amos Julius Rice) on a cornerstone and his father (Elmer Olin Lewis) in a large stained glass window. However, as many do, Elmer grew away from the Church as a young man. While in San Diego, working for SDG&E, Elmer rode side by side with another lineman, Mike Weller. Mike was a born again Christian who began discussing the bible with Elmer at work. However, Elmer challenged Mike, and began studying the bible intently just to be able to debate different passages. Following one of these discussions, Mike noted that Elmer had developed an incredible knowledge of God’s word, but that he “knew enough to be bothered, but not enough to be blessed.” This touched Elmer and in the coming years, he turned his life toward Christ, was baptized at the First Christian Church of National City, then joined the Christian Church of Lemon Grove in 1980 where he remained and served as an elder throughout his adult life.

Hobbies

To Elmer, discipline, duty, and priorities were paramount, including God, wife, family, church, and work. However, when responsibilities were met, Elmer loved to fully experience life through travel, dance, sports, fishing, and gardening. His travels took him all over the world, from New Zealand, to Europe, Alaska, and Mexico. He delighted in watching and playing sports including volleyball, softball, basketball, and football; and in dancing anywhere he could find good music, with his signature dance being the “Funky Chicken.” He engaged in all forms of fishing with friends and family, from giant marlin offshore of Cabo San Lucas, to small trout from the local lakes. He also loved to garden, planting a new pine tree in the backyard every Christmas and filling the yard with orchid cacti that he fondly called Epis. Elmer claimed that he liked plants that thrived on “abuse and neglect,” and yet he constructed elaborate irrigation networks to water them all, and would lovingly hand-pollinate individual flowers using his tiny paint brushes.

Coda

Elmer was blessed with a long, healthy, and active life; with many noting his strength, agility, and handsome appearance into his 70s. For the past 15 months, however, Elmer struggled with advanced stages of Lewy body dementia and was cared for by the compassionate staff at Stellar (Memory) Care in San Diego. He was brought home from Stellar Care on February 17, 2024 and passed away 10 days later at 8:10 PM, February 27, 2024 at the age of 77 years. Elmer passed peacefully, in his home, surrounded by close friends and family as they sang the chorus of “In the Garden.” He is survived by his wife Sheila, their 3 children and their spouses, 6 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. Elmer is now reunited with his mother, father, grandparents, brother Greg, sister Angie, son-in-law Jiri and many other friends and family who were waiting for him in Heaven. He said he’ll be looking forward to greeting each of us when we get there; he’ll likely be smiling in his suit and tie.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Christian Church of Lemon Grove

6970 San Miguel Ave. Lemon Grove, CA 91945

https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/91238

Memo: Elmer Lewis Memorial Fund