ELLENSBURG - Lewis B. Alexander, age 87, passed away on July 24, 2007, at his home in Ellensburg, WA. He was surrounded by his loving family and the tender care of Hospice. Lewis was born Dec. 21, 1919, at Sunnyside, Washington, to Flavious C. and Cora Pearl (Black) Alexander. At age 12, he contracted a severe case of Polio and was not expected to live. His mother's determination and her constant manipulation of the muscles of his arms and legs was rewarded by his survival with the full ability to walk without braces. Lewis went on to climb Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams, crewed on a sailboat to Alaska, and graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1939. He married Arlene Ferson Hans on Aug. 30, 1942.
During World War II, Lewis was a Yeoman on the U.S.S. Gridley, a destroyer in the Pacific fleet under Admiral Halsey. He participated in battles at Leyte Gulf, Midway Island, Guadalcanal, the Marshall Islands, and he watched soldiers raise the American flag on Iwo Jima through the captain's long glass from the bridge of the Gridley. After the war, Lewis raised asparagus and grapes on the Alexander farm on the corner of Washout and Van Bell roads in Sunnyside. In 1954, he began employment with the Marathon Corporation (later purchased by American Can Co.) and worked his way from shift foreman to plant manager over the next 31 years. He retired in 1982 and began traveling back and forth across the North American continent in his motor home with his wife.
Lewis was a Past Master of Masonic Lodge No. 138 of Sunnyside, Past Worthy Patron of Easter Star Chapter 134, a charter member of the Fraternal Order for the Protection of the Elk No. 2112, sat on the Council of Fort Simcoe for Boy Scouts of America, was a Daddy Advisor for the Order of Rainbow for Girls, served as a trustee of Valley Memorial Hospital in Sunnyside, and was a member of the Kittitas County Genealogy Society. Over the years he enjoyed hunting deer and elk, fishing, flying his own single-engine airplane, square dancing, golf, and billiards. Lewis was a true gentleman who served his country and his community. It was an honor to have known him and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Arlene, daughter Judy (Bill) Clayton of Ellensburg; son Jerry L. Alexander of Elmer City; grandchildren Chad (Tammy) Hull of Yakima and Jacqueline (Ray) Martin of Ellensburg; great-grandchildren Gwendolyn Hull, Alexander Hull, Kaitlyn Martin and Tyler Martin; his brother Vernon's children Judith Alexander and Keith Alexander both of Seattle, and great-nephew Jason Alexander; step-grandchildren Brenda Clayton, Ruth (Roger) Oliver, Tammy Dresen, and Jason (Amanda) Clayton; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Flavious and Cora (Black) Alexander of Sunnyside, and his brother Vernon D. Alexander during the Korean War.
A memorial service at his grave site will be held this Saturday, July 28, at 2:00 p.m. at Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside, WA. The VFW Post 683 from Ellensburg will perform military honors and Masonic Lodge No. 138 of Sunnyside will provide a short service. The family suggests donations in his memory to Hospice Friends of Kittitas County, VFW Post 683, or Masonic Lodge No. 138.
During World War II, Lewis was a Yeoman on the U.S.S. Gridley, a destroyer in the Pacific fleet under Admiral Halsey. He participated in battles at Leyte Gulf, Midway Island, Guadalcanal, the Marshall Islands, and he watched soldiers raise the American flag on Iwo Jima through the captain's long glass from the bridge of the Gridley. After the war, Lewis raised asparagus and grapes on the Alexander farm on the corner of Washout and Van Bell roads in Sunnyside. In 1954, he began employment with the Marathon Corporation (later purchased by American Can Co.) and worked his way from shift foreman to plant manager over the next 31 years. He retired in 1982 and began traveling back and forth across the North American continent in his motor home with his wife.
Lewis was a Past Master of Masonic Lodge No. 138 of Sunnyside, Past Worthy Patron of Easter Star Chapter 134, a charter member of the Fraternal Order for the Protection of the Elk No. 2112, sat on the Council of Fort Simcoe for Boy Scouts of America, was a Daddy Advisor for the Order of Rainbow for Girls, served as a trustee of Valley Memorial Hospital in Sunnyside, and was a member of the Kittitas County Genealogy Society. Over the years he enjoyed hunting deer and elk, fishing, flying his own single-engine airplane, square dancing, golf, and billiards. Lewis was a true gentleman who served his country and his community. It was an honor to have known him and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Arlene, daughter Judy (Bill) Clayton of Ellensburg; son Jerry L. Alexander of Elmer City; grandchildren Chad (Tammy) Hull of Yakima and Jacqueline (Ray) Martin of Ellensburg; great-grandchildren Gwendolyn Hull, Alexander Hull, Kaitlyn Martin and Tyler Martin; his brother Vernon's children Judith Alexander and Keith Alexander both of Seattle, and great-nephew Jason Alexander; step-grandchildren Brenda Clayton, Ruth (Roger) Oliver, Tammy Dresen, and Jason (Amanda) Clayton; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Flavious and Cora (Black) Alexander of Sunnyside, and his brother Vernon D. Alexander during the Korean War.
A memorial service at his grave site will be held this Saturday, July 28, at 2:00 p.m. at Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside, WA. The VFW Post 683 from Ellensburg will perform military honors and Masonic Lodge No. 138 of Sunnyside will provide a short service. The family suggests donations in his memory to Hospice Friends of Kittitas County, VFW Post 683, or Masonic Lodge No. 138.
ELLENSBURG - Lewis B. Alexander, age 87, passed away on July 24, 2007, at his home in Ellensburg, WA. He was surrounded by his loving family and the tender care of Hospice. Lewis was born Dec. 21, 1919, at Sunnyside, Washington, to Flavious C. and Cora Pearl (Black) Alexander. At age 12, he contracted a severe case of Polio and was not expected to live. His mother's determination and her constant manipulation of the muscles of his arms and legs was rewarded by his survival with the full ability to walk without braces. Lewis went on to climb Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams, crewed on a sailboat to Alaska, and graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1939. He married Arlene Ferson Hans on Aug. 30, 1942.
During World War II, Lewis was a Yeoman on the U.S.S. Gridley, a destroyer in the Pacific fleet under Admiral Halsey. He participated in battles at Leyte Gulf, Midway Island, Guadalcanal, the Marshall Islands, and he watched soldiers raise the American flag on Iwo Jima through the captain's long glass from the bridge of the Gridley. After the war, Lewis raised asparagus and grapes on the Alexander farm on the corner of Washout and Van Bell roads in Sunnyside. In 1954, he began employment with the Marathon Corporation (later purchased by American Can Co.) and worked his way from shift foreman to plant manager over the next 31 years. He retired in 1982 and began traveling back and forth across the North American continent in his motor home with his wife.
Lewis was a Past Master of Masonic Lodge No. 138 of Sunnyside, Past Worthy Patron of Easter Star Chapter 134, a charter member of the Fraternal Order for the Protection of the Elk No. 2112, sat on the Council of Fort Simcoe for Boy Scouts of America, was a Daddy Advisor for the Order of Rainbow for Girls, served as a trustee of Valley Memorial Hospital in Sunnyside, and was a member of the Kittitas County Genealogy Society. Over the years he enjoyed hunting deer and elk, fishing, flying his own single-engine airplane, square dancing, golf, and billiards. Lewis was a true gentleman who served his country and his community. It was an honor to have known him and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Arlene, daughter Judy (Bill) Clayton of Ellensburg; son Jerry L. Alexander of Elmer City; grandchildren Chad (Tammy) Hull of Yakima and Jacqueline (Ray) Martin of Ellensburg; great-grandchildren Gwendolyn Hull, Alexander Hull, Kaitlyn Martin and Tyler Martin; his brother Vernon's children Judith Alexander and Keith Alexander both of Seattle, and great-nephew Jason Alexander; step-grandchildren Brenda Clayton, Ruth (Roger) Oliver, Tammy Dresen, and Jason (Amanda) Clayton; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Flavious and Cora (Black) Alexander of Sunnyside, and his brother Vernon D. Alexander during the Korean War.
A memorial service at his grave site will be held this Saturday, July 28, at 2:00 p.m. at Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside, WA. The VFW Post 683 from Ellensburg will perform military honors and Masonic Lodge No. 138 of Sunnyside will provide a short service. The family suggests donations in his memory to Hospice Friends of Kittitas County, VFW Post 683, or Masonic Lodge No. 138.
During World War II, Lewis was a Yeoman on the U.S.S. Gridley, a destroyer in the Pacific fleet under Admiral Halsey. He participated in battles at Leyte Gulf, Midway Island, Guadalcanal, the Marshall Islands, and he watched soldiers raise the American flag on Iwo Jima through the captain's long glass from the bridge of the Gridley. After the war, Lewis raised asparagus and grapes on the Alexander farm on the corner of Washout and Van Bell roads in Sunnyside. In 1954, he began employment with the Marathon Corporation (later purchased by American Can Co.) and worked his way from shift foreman to plant manager over the next 31 years. He retired in 1982 and began traveling back and forth across the North American continent in his motor home with his wife.
Lewis was a Past Master of Masonic Lodge No. 138 of Sunnyside, Past Worthy Patron of Easter Star Chapter 134, a charter member of the Fraternal Order for the Protection of the Elk No. 2112, sat on the Council of Fort Simcoe for Boy Scouts of America, was a Daddy Advisor for the Order of Rainbow for Girls, served as a trustee of Valley Memorial Hospital in Sunnyside, and was a member of the Kittitas County Genealogy Society. Over the years he enjoyed hunting deer and elk, fishing, flying his own single-engine airplane, square dancing, golf, and billiards. Lewis was a true gentleman who served his country and his community. It was an honor to have known him and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Arlene, daughter Judy (Bill) Clayton of Ellensburg; son Jerry L. Alexander of Elmer City; grandchildren Chad (Tammy) Hull of Yakima and Jacqueline (Ray) Martin of Ellensburg; great-grandchildren Gwendolyn Hull, Alexander Hull, Kaitlyn Martin and Tyler Martin; his brother Vernon's children Judith Alexander and Keith Alexander both of Seattle, and great-nephew Jason Alexander; step-grandchildren Brenda Clayton, Ruth (Roger) Oliver, Tammy Dresen, and Jason (Amanda) Clayton; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Flavious and Cora (Black) Alexander of Sunnyside, and his brother Vernon D. Alexander during the Korean War.
A memorial service at his grave site will be held this Saturday, July 28, at 2:00 p.m. at Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside, WA. The VFW Post 683 from Ellensburg will perform military honors and Masonic Lodge No. 138 of Sunnyside will provide a short service. The family suggests donations in his memory to Hospice Friends of Kittitas County, VFW Post 683, or Masonic Lodge No. 138.
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