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Francis W. ‘Nookie’ Lewis, 87, of Fayette City, passed away Thursday, July 11, 2013 in his home, surrounded by his loving family. A son of the late Francis H. Lewis and Betty I. Fillingham, he was born in Clairton on September 13, 1925. He attended Charleroi High School where he was an All Valley in football in 1943 and 1944 and All Valley in basketball in 1944. He received the Leslie Morgan Trophy in 1944 and was inducted into the Charleroi Hall of Fame in 1987. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1943 and was called to active duty in 1944. After attending various electronic training schools, he was assigned as a radar technician / operator on the SS India Victory, a troop transport moving POWs and troops between the USA, France and Belgium. Mr. Lewis was discharged from active duty in 1946 and played professional minor league baseball with the Pittsburgh and Cleveland franchises, ending his career when he damaged his throwing arm. Recalled to active duty in 1950, with the Korean Conflict, he served in Japan, Korea, French Morocco, Panama, Thailand and back to Korea in 1961. While in Panama, he was a member of the Joint-Services Inspector General team that visited various countries in both Central and South America that had military groups assigned to them. Having served a total of 28 years of active duty, he retired in 1976. His decorations included the Soldiers Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leave clusters, European-African-Mid East Campaign Medal, World War 2 Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal with two Battle Stars, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. In 1977, he joined the Pennsylvania Turnpike and served as the Human Resources Representative until his retirement in 1991. He was a long time member of the VFW, Post 167 of Charleroi, the Fairhope Rod and Gun Club, the Air Force Sergeants Association, AARP and was an honorary member of the Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Association. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, June L. Lewis, two daughters and sons-in-law, Shelly and James Hardison of Williamston, NC and Vicki and Loyal Gregory of Moss Point MS, one granddaughter, Heather R. Arment and her husband, Robert of Castle Shannon, two grandsons, R.J. and Ricky Hardison of Williamston, NC, one great-granddaughter Madeline June Arment and one sister, Shirley A. Pullion of Charleroi. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Paul E. Lewis. Friends will be received on Sunday, July 14th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 700 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon. (724-929-5300) www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com Funeral services will be Monday at 12 P.M. in the funeral home with Pastor Raymond Cowie officiating. Interment, with full military honors, will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. If friends wish, memorial donations may be made to Amedysis Hospice Care, 100 Stoops Drive, Suite 300, Monongahela, PA 15063

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Francis 'Nookie' Lewis

September 13, 1925 - July 11, 2013