William Tanner Lewis

William Tanner Lewis, 97, of Zanesville, died at 5:50 a.m. Sunday, April 15, 2007 at his home, the Tanner-Lewis farm in Falls Township. He was born January 22, 1910 in Sabina, Ohio a son of the late William Ellis and Anna Tanner Lewis. When he was a teenager , the family moved from his father's family farm to his mother's family farm outside Zanesville. Mr. Lewis graduated from Zanesville High School and attended the University of Detroit. He worked for the Army Corps of Engineers, first at the Soil Erosion Conservation Station near his home, then in Cincinnati and Hinton, WV. During World War II he worked for the Navy's Hydrographic Office in Washington, D.C. After the war he returned to the family farm with his wife, Eleanor Printz Lewis, where his brother John farmed, Tanner worked in a number of capacities for the Columbia Gas Company, retiring in 1975 as Zanesville District Manager. Mr. Lewis was very active in community affairs. He was the Charter President of the Zanesville Foreman's Club, member Lodge of Amity# 5 F&AM , a 32 degree Mason, a lifetime member of Timber Run Grange , member and past president of Zanesville Toastmasters, former Commissioner of the County Board of Health, a member of the Ohio Forestry Association and an active member of the Harbor Hills Polo Team and had also served as a member of the Associate Board of Bethesda Hospital. Surviving are a daughter, Susan Lewis of Boston, MA., his sister, Mary Anne Lewis of Zanesville, his nephew, Dr. David (Dollie) Allen of Springfield and a sister-in-law, Doris Matchett Lewis of Zanesville. He has four great nieces and thirteen great- great nieces and nephews. In addition he is survived by many dear friends both old and new. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor Lewis, whom he married in 1941, and who died October 24, 1997 and by his sister Jane Lewis Allen and his brother, John Raymond Lewis, and by his nephew, John Daniel Lewis. Friends may call from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, 2007 and one hour prior to services at Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home, 1271 Blue Avenue, Zanesville where funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007 with Rev. Larry Kudart officiating. Burial will follow at Williams Cemetery, Zanesville. Memorial contributions may be made to Genesis Hospice and Palliative Care, 713 Forest Avenue, Zanesville, Ohio 43701-9836 His love for his family and the land were evident in all that he did.