Dr. Clyde Lee Lewis

Dr. Clyde Lee Lewis, age 90, of Abingdon, Va., passed away on Monday, July 18, 2022, at his residence. He was a veteran of the United States Army and a member of Abingdon Church of Christ.

He was born October 1, 1931, to the late William Robert Lewis and Flora Azalene Davis Lewis in Jackson, Mich.; and three brothers, Kenneth, Virgil, and Edwin Lewis and wife, Jo.

Clyde is survived by his wife of 66 years, Darlene Payne Lewis; son, Dr. Bart Lewis and wife, Lisa, of Lynn Haven, Fla.; daughter, Connie Simcox and husband, Shy Faber, of Abingdon, Va.; four sisters-in-law, Joann Lewis; Johnsie Lewis; Suzanne Organ and husband, Glenn; and Dinah Beene and husband, Ronald; and four grandchildren, Bradford Payne Lewis and wife, Karina Bittencourt, Skyler Lee Simcox, Allison Katherine Lewis, and Emily Ellis Simcox.

Clyde grew up farming with his family at the end of the Depression. He would later continue to make use of this skill set, working on farms to pay his way through college, earning both a BS from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute and a Masters from LSU. It was at LSU that he would meet the love of his life, Darlene. Later, Clyde would go on to receive his doctorate in Animal Physiology from Clemson University, where his thesis centered around his work with an early electron microscope.

While in the army, after completing the program of meat and dairy science in Chicago, he was sent to Germany, where he worked as a meat inspector for the troops.

Following graduation, Clyde started several businesses before finding his calling as a college professor. He taught at Berea College, the University of Kentucky and Freed Hardeman University, where he retired in 1993. While in Henderson, Tennessee, he served as an Elder at the Estes Church of Christ.

After retirement, Clyde followed his love for the ocean and moved to Beaufort, S.C., where he continued his church work, serving as an Elder at Port Royal Church of Christ, and pursued his personal passions of fishing and boating.

In 2014, Clyde and Darlene moved to Abingdon, Va. to be closer to family.

He was known by all as a man of his word, and was loved and respected for his gentle nature and his constant readiness to lend a hand. In his 90 years, Clyde Lewis never met a stranger. He will be dearly missed.

A funeral ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service with Dr. Bart Lewis officiating. A committal service will follow at Forest Hills Memory Gardens where Ronald Beene, Shy Faber, Bart Lewis, Dennis Salyer, Joe Scroggin, and Skyler Simcox will serve as pallbearers. Bradford Lewis and Glenn Organ will serve as an honorary pallbearer. Military honors will be provided by the Highlands Veterans Honor Guard and the Virginia National Guard. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guestbook. The family of Dr. Clyde Lee Lewis is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service and Crematory, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, Va. 24210 (276-623-2700).