Biography:
In Memory of
Ronald L. Lewis
1947 - 2017
 
Date of Birth: Saturday, March 22nd, 1947
Date of Death: Friday, March 3rd, 2017
Obituary:
Ronald L. Lewis, 69, of Jonesboro
met his Lord and Savior on March 3, 2017 at Ridgecrest Nursing and Rehab
Center.
Ronald was born in Newport on March 22, 1947 to the late Estle and Hazel McDaniel
Lewis. He attended Arkansas State University, and later joined the United
States Army. He had a 22-year career that was decorated with many medals,
badges, ribbons that included; Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army
Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement
Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Professional Development
Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbons, Army Sharpshooter Marksmanship Badge, Dog
Handler during the Vietnam War, and he retired as a Master Sergeant from Camp
Robinson in North Little. He was a very loving husband, and a member of the
Nettleton Baptist Church.
He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia Seats Lewis of the home; daughter,
Tara Grady of Batesville; brothers, Errol Lewis of Newport, Jimmy Lewis of San
Diego, CA, and Jerry Lewis of Ft. Smith; three grandchildren, Ethan Tharp,
Morgan Tharp, and Mackenzie Tharp; brother in law, Jerry Seats (Charlotte) of
Jonesboro; sister in law, Janna Seats of Jonesboro; and a host of other family
and friends.
A graveside service will be at 10am on Tuesday with Glen Hurst officiating.
Interment will take place at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery with Full
Military Honors, and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
In Lieu of flowers the family has requested that you consider the Nettleton
Baptist Building Fund or the Nettleton Baptist Helping Hands, P.O. Box 2415
Jonesboro, AR 72402.
SERVICES:
Graveside Service
Tuesday, March 07, 2017
10:00 AM
Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery
Harrisburg Road
Jonesboro, Arkansas 72404
Get
Directions on Google Maps
Full Military Honors
03/04/2017
From: Dave Broeker
[mailto:davebroeker@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, March 4, 2017 4:31 PM
To: davebroeker@comcast.net
Subject: Passing of Ronald Lewis
Guys,
It is with deepest sympathy that I
have to inform you that we have lost another U-Tapao Dog Handler.
Ron Lewis passed on to Heaven early in the morning, on March
3rd, at Ridgecrest Nursing Home.
His wife Pat shared with us that Graveside Services will be
at Jonesboro Memorial Park, Jonesboro, Arkansas on 03/07/17 at 10 am.
If anybody gets a copy of the large Obituary,
and has a good photo of Ron, I would ask them to please share them with me so I
can share them with everyone else by posting them on Ron’s Memorial pages on
the VDHA website and the new Thailand Dog Handlers website.
With sympathy,
Dave
------ Original Message ------From: Jim Watkins <jimwatk9@ca.rr.com>To: David D. Clark, William
Cummings, Dave Broeker (H), Chuck Gehringer, Larry HickmanSent: March 3, 2017 at 7:42 PMSubject: Ron Lewis
I met Ron 49 years ago this month
at Lackland AFB, Texas. We were both there to go through AZR a combat
preparedness course for SPs on their way to Vietnam or Thailand. Ron and
I were both headed for Thailand along with our Sentry dogs. Ron was bound
for U-Tapao and me for Ubon. As fate would have it we were on the same
C-141, 15 dogs and handlers for U-Tapao and 10 for Ubon. The other 10 dogs and
handlers were on the 1st C-141 with the 20 handlers and dogs bound for
NKP. A year later we both were assigned to the 824th SPS K-9 section plus
we were roommates in the barracks. We ended up working on the same squad
so we got to know each other very well. Sometime in 1970 Ron was assigned
to the PACAF Military Working Dog Training Center. After some training he
was made an instructor at the school. He was an avid Arkansas Razorback
fan in all sports but especially Razorback football. He almost broke his
leg celebrating an Arkansas TD by jumping off the top bunk. It was the 69
Texas - Arkansas game, very important one in college football history. We
finally found Ron in 2002 after looking for him for over two years. A big
shout out to Bill Cummings for helping with that. We met each other in
St. Louis for both our first VDHA reunions in October 2002. So glad we
got to see each other. Ron, I will sorely miss our chats on the phone and
I will always remember those memorable rides out to the off base missile sites
on Okinawa. Rest in Peace dear friend. See you at the Rainbow
Bridge.
---- Jim
---- William Cummings
<usafbrutus@comcast.net> wrote:
So sorry to hear this
news. Sure miss our friend
already. God bless him and his family!He will always be remembered and missed.If anyone can provide Dave Broeker with additional information for
a tribute on our Thailand Dog Handler page it would be fantastic.
Bill Cummings |
