Robert was born on October 22,1940 in Russellville AR to John Milton Lewis and Mary Elizabeth Lewis. The family settled in Conway AR where Robert attended school graduating in 1959. He was very active in sports and played football and ran track. Upon graduation he enlisted in the army and after basic training joined the National Guard and served many years. He went to work for his father’s timber contracting business for several years. In 1963 he met and married Annette(Ann) Whittington (Lewis). They moved to Newport AR in 1964 and Robert continued working in his father’s business for a few years. He also worked briefly for a Cable Company before taking a job with Farmers electric Cooperative and continued there until 1998 when he transferred to Craighead Electric in Jonesboro AR and worked there until retirement with 34 years of service. He served in the Diaz Fire Department for many years while living in Newport. Robert was an avid hunter and spent many deer hunting seasons at Fountain Prairie Hunting Club where he enjoyed outdoor Christian fellowship with many close friends. Robert was also a fantastic fisherman and loved trout fishing on the White River at the family cabin at Mt Olive AR. Many family memories were made there.
Robert was a member of the First Christian Church in Newport. In 2014 Robert and Ann moved to Paragould where they attended the First Presbyterian Church.
Robert never met a stranger and loved to talk and visit with everyone he met. In his later years he loved to watch westerns and especially loved John Wayne.
Robert is preceded in death by his parents, a son, Jason Todd Lewis and his sister, Nadine Olmstead.
He is survived by his wife of 60 Years Ann Lewis, a son Wade Lewis and wife Cindy of Jonesboro AR, three grandchildren, Nathan Lewis, Nick Lewis, and Anna Lewis of Jonesboro, and a brother John Lewis of Newport, AR and wife Nancy.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff of Flo & Phil Hospice House.
The family will receive friends at Phillips Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 7 from 10:00 a.m. until service time. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. at Phillips Funeral Home with Rev Barry Anderson and Rev Sonny Simpson officiating. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you consider a donation in his honor to the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation.
Nick Lewis, Nathan Lewis, David Wesson, Jeremy Wesson, Todd Smith, Greg Floyd, Fountain Prairie Hunting Club Members, and Craighead Electric Retirees will serve as honorary pallbearers.