David W. Lewis

David “Dave” Wesley Lewis, 88 of Annapolis, MD (formerly of Laurel, MD) passed away on April 7, 2019 after a being diagnosed with cancer in January 2019.

He was born at home in 1930 to Trubadour and Bertie Lewis in  Cumberland, MD.   His father’s family migrated from Wales in the 19th century and and his mother’s family arrived before the American Revolution from England.  He had 2 older siblings, Bob Lewis and Edith Lewis Leydig. They grew up in a rural community on Winchester  Road dominated by family – most of the neighbors were relatives who had built houses on land that had formerly been the Lewis Family Farm.  Buses from Cumberland announced the stop along Winchester Road as “ Lewistown”.  Born into the Great Depression, Dave carried the lessons of thriftiness and self reliance learned in this close-knit and supportive community all of his life.

Dave met Shirley Weaver on the school bus in Junior High School.  They socialized at the skating rink in LaValle, MD and later began dating in high school.  They both attended and graduated from Allegheny High School in Cumberland.  Their marriage in December 1951 lasted for nearly 59 years until Shirley’s passing in 2010.

Dave went on to graduate from Frostburg State Teachers’ College where he played baseball and soccer and was Vice President of his Class.  There, he developed a life-long love of soccer in college and went on to coach soccer at some of the schools where he later taught.  Upon graduation, he accepted a job with Prince George’s County Schools and relocated to the Washington, DC area.  He also received a Masters in Education from George Washington University.

After teaching for a few years Dave enlisted in the US Army during the conflict in Korea.  Timing was good because -- due to qualifying for officer’s candidate school in Japan – he never saw combat; by his OCS graduation, the war was over.  He returned to his wife and career states-side.  Dave and Shirley had two children - Janet Lee and David Allen.

The biggest part of Dave’s career was spent in Laurel, MD as both a math teacher and vice-principal.  He made many life-long friends at Laurel and became a well-known member of the community.  He had a reputation as a firm but fair disciplinarian.  There was a rumor that he had a black belt in karate, but that was just a rumor that he didn’t bother to correct.  He wasn’t a big man but he had a big voice and a wicked stare.  The shop classes at the school famously carved him a wooden paddle every year, which he displayed in his office.  The left over paddles came home and were stationed on top of the refrigerator unless called into action.  It was a different time.

Dave retired at the relatively young age of 55 after a 30-year career with the Prince George’s County school system.  During his career he worked at High Point High School, Laurel Junior High School and Central High School.  He also retired from the US Army Reserves with the rank of major. 

After retirement, Dave kept busy with a part-time job as a Special Census-taker with the US Census Bureau.  He was an active member of the Crabtown Ski Club in Annapolis, travelling with them to mountains all over the world.  He also enjoyed tennis, sailing, fishing and biking.  He remained active in these sports through his mid-seventies.  He traveled and had fun for most of his retirement years.  He famously said “ I lived the first 50 years of my life for other people, the next 50 are for me”

Dave is survived by his children, Janet Lewis and David Lewis, and David’s wife Kitty. He also has four grandchildren – Conor and Megan Boyle, and Jake and Shawn Lewis.  He also leaves three nephews and a niece, as well as other family and friends.

He was well loved and loved well.

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