Donald G Lewis

A memorial service celebrating the life of Donald G. Lewis, 73, of Granville, will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday, August 9, 2021 at Centenary United Methodist Church, 102 E. Broadway, Granville with Rev. Casey Wilson and Rev. John Girard as celebrants. Private interment will be held at Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville.

Don passed away peacefully Monday, August 2, 2021 at his home. He was born in Fulton, New York to the late Leonard and Ethel Lewis.

A generous member of his family and community, Don was a man of deep intellect, diverse interests, sharp wit, and endless stories. Don graduated from Purdue University in 1970, receiving a BS with distinction and MS as a Fellow, both in Aeronautical Engineering. He was a proud member of the marching band and Tau Beta Pi. He interned at NASA during the Apollo 11 mission. Don then went to work for the Autonetics Division of North American Aviation (later known as Rockwell International). He transferred to its Columbus Division, which allowed him to relocate his family to his wife’s native Ohio, and joined the Advanced Engineering Department in the Missiles Systems Group. He was instrumental in the analysis and development of advanced defense technology, including the Hellfire and Minuteman Missiles. As he continued his career, Don contributed to a diverse set of projects including quantum cryptography, advanced linguistics processing, and commercialization of infant cranial orthotics. He retired from Battelle in 2012, after which he began his own consulting business to continue work with several US Government clients. He was deeply respected by both his clients and coworkers for his honesty, broad engineering capabilities, team spirit, and dependability.

He was a builder of many things, including his own geodesic-dome home. He established and cultivated an idyllic family homestead over four decades. He lived to solve challenges, offering quiet leadership and friendly acceptance to everyone. He accomplished as much as anyone could in three lifetimes.

Don was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Granville for 38 years, serving as a distinguished past president and board member, receiving the Legion of Honor, leading the maple grove and syrup projects, and volunteering for everything needed.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Alice; children, Jennifer Lewis (Mike Moore), Sharon Federico (Ronald), and Patrick Lewis (Molly Maher); grandchildren, Emily and Abby Federico; sister, Helen Wolford; and nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends Sunday, August 8, 2021 from 2 to 4 P.M. at McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home, 133 S. Prospect St., Granville. Masks are preferred. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions to the Kiwanis Club of Granville, P.O. Box 133, Granville, OH 43023.