Ralph Lionel Lewis

  Generelle notater:

RALPH LIONEL LEWIS
EULOGY
MAY 23, 1987

It’s an honor for me to be given the opportunity here today to eulogize Ralph Lionel Lewis, who was affectionately known as Lionel by his family and close friends. Lionel was born August 27, 1900 to his father, Arthur Lewis, and his mother, Anna Rosalie Nielsen. His father was born in London, England and his mother was born near Copenhagen, Denmark.

Lionel’s father was converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in London, after which he had such a desire to be with the main body of the church he became a stowaway on a freighter bound for the United States and when discovered a few days later he was allowed to earn his passage by working as an apprentice. He finally worked his way to Salt Lake where he later met the pretty Danish girl, Anna. They were married by civil authority on July 13, 1887. Lionel’s parents had 12 children together and Lionel was number 8 . . . the 4th boy of 6 boys and 6 girls. He was the 3rd child born to them subsequent to their being sealed together, for time and eternity by the power of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Lionel was baptized at the age of 10 and ordained an elder at the age of 28. During his youth he lived with his large family in the Moapa Valley, which was a desert area situated between Las Vegas and St. George, Utah. There was nothing there but alkali flats and desert sagebrush. The area was subject to flash floods and more than once Lionel saw their pigs, sheep and even cows washed away with the floodwaters covering the entire floor of the valley. The young boys lived in a tent, in this harsh environment, for some years because even though they had a house there wasn’t room there for such a large family. This frugal existence trained Lionel well to be both conservative and thrifty, gave him a strong moral character and taught him strong work ethics. And, when he left the valley I’m told, he never looked back.

Lionel married his first wife, Marjorie Done, the daughter of a patriarch, on July 14, 1923. About 4 years later they adopted their only son, whom they named Ralph Charles Lewis, and they were sealed together in the Salt Lake City Temple on January 29, 1928, just a few days after Lionel’s ordination to the Holy Priesthood as an Elder.

It was 8 years later that Lionel was ordained a High Priest by Rudger Clawson, who was, at that time, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Lionel finally got away from the sagebrush and got work in the mines where he became a foreman. However, his wife, Marjorie, developed respiratory problems and they were advised to move to a lower elevation and better climate. This came at a bad time because it was 1929 and unemployment was rampant. Nevertheless, Lionel’s persistence in the hiring lines finally paid off. One day, after standing in those long employment lines he walked right in to the Texaco hiring office and told them he had to have a job of some kind, if only for a couple of weeks. When asked what he could do he told them he had been a foreman in the mines and they put him on for two weeks. When he was interviews again two weeks later they kept him on and his temporary job turned into permanent employment. Lionel finally retired from Texaco in 1965, after approximately 37 years of service with that company. Lionel’s early hardships and training brought him recognition and he was favored with supervisory and management positions, during the course of his employment, and was finally entrusted with engineering decisions as well, as part of the responsibilities that came all because of his natural diligence, hard work and dependability.

Lionel became a widower in 1971 and married Martha Louisa Carroll, in late 1972, in the Los Angeles Temple. Lionel and Martha decided to settle in this area of Costa Mesa, at the time of their marriage, and I became acquainted with them soon after their move here, as members of the Newport Beach Ward. At that time I was Lionel’s High Priest Group Leader. Lionel was always there, whether he felt well or not. His Bishop for a number of years, Donald Roberts, who is here with us today, tells how Lionel came to orange picking assignments even after he had to wear a cane and when he couldn’t pick oranges he would help with the fixing of breakfast for the other men. Lionel was loved and appreciated by all who knew him.

Even in retirement Lionel was not idle. He loved to work at his bench in the garage and became employed again with Deseret Industries, for the Church, where he made many new friends and was able to be of much service there until he fell and broke his back. These last few years have been very difficult for him because instead of his usual hard work and activity he had to rely upon first a cane and then a walker.

Lionel’s terminal illness was caused by pancreatic cancer, but his demise was quiet. His last fully conscious request was for a priesthood blessing.

Lionel is survived by his wife, Martha, his step-daughter, Carroll; and, of course, his only son, Ralph Charles, plus two of his brothers, all of whom are here with us today, Roger and Emery, 3 of his sisters, Ethel Mace, Grace Walker, who is here, and June Thran. Five of his brothers and sisters have already celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries. Lionel also has 4 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

So, here we are today to say adieu to Lionel as he passes from mortality to the spirit world as the next sphere of his existence. I’m sure there are many there who are greeting him, brothers, sisters, parents, and others of his ancestors and friends with a warm welcome, as he returns to his God and Jesus Christ and I say these things in His Name. Amen.

  Begivenheder i hans liv:

• Bopæl: California, L A.

• Bopæl, 1910, Overton, Clark, Nevada, United States.

• Bopæl, 1920, Overton, Clark, Nevada, United States.

• Bopæl, 1935, Same House.

• Bopæl, 1940, Inglewood Judicial Township, Los Angeles, California, United States.

• Military Draft Registration, 14 Feb. 1942, L A, , California, United States.