Robert Paul Lewis Jr

August 6, 1943 ~ January 30, 2013
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Robert Paul (Bob) Lewis, Jr., 69, a local commercial realtor, passed away at his home on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, two years after being diagnosed with ALS. Bob was born on August 6, 1943, in New Tazewell, TN, to the late Robert Paul Lewis, Sr. and Edna Mae Ritchie Lewis.
Bob grew up in New Tazewell where he enjoyed riding horses and driving the tractor on the family farm, just blocks away from his home on Main Street. In 1961, he graduated from Claiborne County High School, where he played basketball and was named class Salutatorian.
Bob attended Carson-Newman College for two years. He transferred to the University of Tennessee Knoxville and graduated in 1965. He remained an enthusiastic supporter of the Vols throughout his life. He especially enjoyed attending football games. He was a past president of the WNC Alumni Chapter and received the National Alumni Association Chapter Service Award in June, 2002. Bob is a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.
At U-T, Bob met Linda Hartsook; they married on August 7, 1965 and settled in New Tazewell, where Bob began a career in banking. In 1967, they moved to Asheville where Bob continued to work in banking. In 1971, the family moved to Franklin, NC where Bob served as President of the Franklin Jaycees and in 1974, received the chapter's Distinguished Service Award. They returned to Asheville in 1975.
After a twenty year career in banking, Bob founded Lewis Real Estate in 1985. Originally a residential property management company, the company evolved into a commercial real estate company. Projects that Bob worked to develop include Buck Shoals Business Park, Vista Industrial Center, Westside Square, Brickton Industrial Park, Asheville Commerce Park, Village at Biltmore Lake, Enka Center, and Asheville Office Park.
As a member of the Asheville Downtown Rotary Club, Bob was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was proud of his participation as a chaperone in the Honor Air Project, which sponsored visits by World War II veterans to the memorial in Washington, DC. Bob was a past Board Member for Suntrust Bank and FCA.
An active member of First Baptist Church, Bob served many years as an usher. He enjoyed standing at "his" door and welcoming both members and guests to the sanctuary. He was a former deacon and was a founding member of the Pilgrim Sunday School Class, having been a member for 27 years. He also served on various committees including the One Oak Plaza Committee on which he guided the church in the purchase and management of the One Oak property. Bob served on a regional committee which raised funds to establish the Rickman Nursing Care Center at the Baptist Retirement Home in Asheville.
Bob enjoyed fly fishing, hiking, pheasant hunting, and anything that involved spending time with his family. He regularly attended any event in which his children or grandchildren were participating.
Those who survive to cherish memories of him are his loving wife of 47 years, Linda Hartsook Lewis; a son, Martin Lewis and his wife Chrissie of Asheville; a daughter, Ashley Patriacca and her husband Rick of Eagle, CO; five grandchildren: Anna, Oliver, Ella, and Isaac Lewis and Ceily Patriacca; a brother, Dr. Ritchie Lewis of Davidson, NC and several nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express appreciation to Dr. James Hoer and his nurse Camilla and to the Bayada caregivers—Phoebe and Evelyn, who have been with us since the beginning of this journey, and other current caregivers, Ray, Tom, April, Tisha and Jeremy. They not only cared for Bob but also extended their loving care to our entire family.
The family will receive friends on Monday, February 4, from 5-7 pm at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road in Arden. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 5, at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church in Asheville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to RiverLink, PO Box 15488, Asheville, NC 28813 or to Rotary 7670 , Scholarship for Veterans, PO Box 1954, Asheville, NC 28802.
Our prayers are with your family. It was an honor to know Mr. Lewis and my deepest sympathy to the family.
Bob Lewis was not only a great friend of the England Family. His mother & father was my grandfather’s best friends. Bob Lewis was an inspiration to anyone he came in contact with. Everyone wants to make a difference in this world very few ever acheive it. Bob Lewis acheived it. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Danny England family
i knew BOB LEWIS since he started real estate business by doing signs for him, he was a good and kind man.
my thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time of sorrow.
Martin and family, I am so sorry to hear about your father. He was such a sweet man. I enjoyed seeing and talking to him when he would come around the county departments. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Linda & Family:We were deeply saddened to learn of Bob’s death and send our sincere sympathy. Having worked wih Bob for several years in banking, I treasured his friendship. Our thoughts and prayes are with you through this difficult time. Bob will be missed by all who knew him in his business, church and civic life.Cecil & Kathy Tallent
Martin and family, we are so sorry to hear of the loss of your father. He was such a wonderful, caring man that had a positive influence on all who crossed his path. We are fortunate to have known him.
God grant you peace in knowing he is free from pain.
Martin and family, we are so sorry to hear of the loss of your father. He was such a wonderful, caring man that had a positive influence on all who crossed his path. We are fortunate to have known him.
God grant you peace in knowing he is free from pain.
Dearest Linda, Martin, Ashely and families
Such sadness for those he has left behind. Such peace for Dear Bob. We are grieving with you and sending our love to comfort you in the days ahead.
Shannon and Joe
To all of ‘Bobby’s’ family: May the peace and love of God be felt by you during this time of grief.
We graduated High School together, and he will be missed as a classmate for the Claiborne County High School Class of 1961.
Linda, I was sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. He was a great friend of mine, the short time that I have known you both. I will be there Tuesday for you and the family. I pray our Lord will be with you all, during the coming days, without Bob. but with the memory of your days together.
To the Lewis family:
I remember Mr. Lewis very well. He was a great supporter of T. C. Roberson High School. I will not be able to attend the funeral because of another funeral that I will be attending. (Jack Hendrick)
Please know all of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely yours,
Tommy Koontz
To the LEWIS family, I informed Dick Campbell about Bob’s passing and we talked about all the things Bob (Bobby as we knew him) had accomplished and the fun times we had on his mother’s field when it snowed. It was the greatest ski slope in the town. And of all things, we have over 3′ of snow now. He was a greater inspiration to the guys here, then he will ever know and our PRAYERS are with your family. It is such a shock to lose a man like Bob early in life.
MARTIN, I AM SO SORRY ABOUT YOUR DAD.I WISH I COULD BE THERE ON MONDAY BUT I HAVE TO GO TO CHAPEL HILL. PAULA IS HAVING HER SECOND SURGERY IN A WEEK FOR MELONOMA.I WILL REMEMBER YOUR FAMILY IN PRAYER.
Linda and family we were so sorry to hear of Bobs death. You all were such good neighbors on Oak Leaf. May God give you his comfort And Peace days ahead.
To the Lewis family,
We are deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Bob. He was a wonderful man and did many great things. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Linda,
We are currently in Florida for the winter. You will probably never know how many lives Bob touched in his own special way on his life’s journey. Just know that you were both special to us. May you find comfort in knowing that Bob is at peace and in the memories of remarkable life. Just want you to know our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
DEAR MARTIN & FAMILY, MAY GOD FILL THE LOSS OF YOUR DAD WITH LOVE, HOPE, PEACE AND JOY. HE IS NOW HOME AND AT REST. WE ARE ALL GOING TO MISS HIM,MAC
Please know that you and your family are in our heartfelt prayers. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and forever more.
MARTIN,
My sympathy to you and your family. I worked with you in the rental of an office space for the Flood Recovery Office on College Street. You were always so nice and helpful to me.
I know you will miss your father greatly. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Theresa Coletta
Words cannot begin to express the sadness we feel at Bayada. Please know that you will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers today and always. Most lovingly, Erin
To The Lewis Family:
I am saddened to hear about the passing of Bob. We have lost a fine gentleman and fellow Rotarian. He will be greatly missed.
Dear Mrs. Lewis and Family,
I am so sorry to read about Bob’s passing. He was one of those rare men that I looked up to, physically, and most importantly, for his honesty and integrity. He will be missed greatly by many. Yet we look forward to seeing him again when we meet in heaven. My love and prayers are with you.
Tommy Logan
Please know I am thinking of you all and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. I got to know Bob during my time in the Rotary Club of Asheville. I always appreciated how kind he was. I am sorry for your loss.
With sympathy,
We just heard the sad news about Bob. Linda,you and the rest of the family are in our thoughts and prayers.Although we can not be with you, we send our love to you all. May God bless and comfort you!
I enjoyed every moment in your home. I am so glad that I got to meet Bob and hope that I helped in some way make his life a little easier. Linda, you are very special to me and will always be a friend. Hope that I will be seeing more of you out and about with the kids when everything settles. Love, Jennifer Lynch
Lindsey, Lee and I are so sorry to learn of Bob’s passing. Linda, Ashely and Martin, please know that we are thinking of you. Bob was always so nice to us and we will certainly miss him.
I just heard of Mr. Lewis passing on. Please know all of you are in my prayers. I fondly remember him ushering and greeting people as they entered the sanctuary at FBCA. Always a smile on his face. Blessings to all!
I am so sorry to learn of your loss. I will be thinking and praying for comfort for you and your family.
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. -Andrea and Mike Glass
Linda & family,
I was so sorry to hear about Bob. I enjoyed the time I had to get to know him and found his presence always welcoming at the door on Sunday morning. Know that your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Dear Linda,
We send our sincere sympathy to you and your family in your time of loss. He will be missed by many who had the pleasure of knowing him.
May God bless you.
Marcia and Fred Ayers
Linda,
We want you and your family to know we have been thinking of you and will keep you in our prayers in the days to come. You and Bob have a beautiful family that will give you a strength for the days ahead.
Martin and Linda,
We are all deeply saddened at your loss and the passing of Bob. You can take comfort in knowing that the pain and suffering has ended.
I can still remember the many evenings that Bob would be working late when he first started the property management business in the late 80s and my office was across the parking lot. I would head out to the car and wave to him as he sat in the window doing his manual entry bookkeeping.
Mt prayers go out to you and your family. We all have fond memories of Bob!
Sincerely,
Ken Jackson
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ashley, and her family. So sorry for the loss of your father.
Please know that you and the family are in the prayers of your church family in Eagle.
In God’s love to all,
Don and Donna Gress
Dear Linda and family,
What a wonderful person Bob was, and always so friendly at church and everywhere we saw him.
He will be so missed, by everyone who knew him, but most of all by his family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this very sad time.
Love,
Myra Ramsey
Dear Linda & Family,
I just learned of Bob’s passing today. As a Phi Gam fraternity brother, I thought the world of Bob, but had not seen him since 1965 or so. Fifty years, but many warm thoughts. Love and sincere belated condolences to you all from Farragut, TN.