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John H. Lewis, Jr., age 85, of Salisbury, NC, died on July 20, 2017 under hospice care at Trinity Oaks. Born November 9, 1931 in Mooresville, NC, he was the son of the late John H. Lewis and Margaret Perry Lewis Withrow and brother of the late Thomas B. Lewis, Sr. Mr. Lewis graduated from Mooresville Central High School in 1950 and from Catawba College with a BA Degree in Physics and Math in 1959. A life-long member of Central United Methodist Church in Mooresville, NC, he served in many leadership capacities and was especially proud of his continuous service, beginning in 1972 up until his death, as Sunday School Superintendent and Head Usher. He was recognized as the United Methodist Western NC District Man of the Year in 1975. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Barnhardt Lewis and son, James of Salisbury; niece, Linda Lewis Ketchie, of Mooresville and nephew, Thomas B. Lewis, Jr., of Belmont, NC. A Korean War Veteran, he served four years in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955. Mr. Lewis began his career with the NASA Space Task Group at Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA in June of 1959. As a Fluid and Flight Mechanic Aerospace Engineer, he had responsibilities for the Launch Guidance System for the Mercury Atlas Rocket that was used in the NASA Project Mercury Manned Space Program. He was especially proud to have been in the Launch Guidance Control Room when Astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, was launched in spacecraft "Friendship 7" by Mercury Atlas 6 from Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral, FL on February 20, 1962. He always felt he was an "eye-witness" to history. Following the Completion of the Project Mercury Program in 1968, Mr. Lewis took a position in the Computer Services Department with Duke Energy Corporation in Charlotte. He retired in 1989 after 21 years of service. A frequent volunteer of his services, he was a long-time volunteer with the American Legion Baseball Program. In recognition of his service of more than 20 years to the Mooresville Gresham-Baker American Legion Post 66 Baseball Program, he was inducted into the NC State American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. A long-time supporter of his alma mater, Catawba College, he served as President of the Alumni Association and President of the Catawba Chiefs Athletic Support Club. He also was a member of the Board of Visitors, and was recognized for his support to the College with the O. B. Michael Alumni Award in 1989. The family would like to thank the staff of Trinity Oaks and Rowan Hospice for their loving care during his final days. A graveside service for Mr. Lewis will be held on Monday, July 24 at 11:00 AM at Willow Valley Cemetery, Mooresville with Rev. Randy Sherrill officiating. Memorials may be made to Catawba College Athletic Department, 2300 West Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144 or to Central United Methodist Church, 214 North Academy Street, Mooresville, NC 28115 or to Rowan Hospice, 700 Grove Street, Salisbury, NC 28144. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Lewis family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.

Tributes

John Herman Lewis

November 9, 1931 - July 20, 2017