Obituary for Gordon Phelps "Duff" Lewis
Gordon “Duff” Lewis of Alton, NH, passed away on June 20, 2019. He was born in Boston, December 19, 1940, the son of Virginia and Frederick Lewis. Duff and his mother resided in Lewiston, Maine, with his grandparents, during WWII. Later the family moved to Scarsdale, New York. While growing up there, he spent summers on Lake Winnipesaukee and in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Duff graduated from Syracuse University where he was a student in the College of Forestry. He met his wife, Jeannie, there, played in a rock and roll band some Saturdays, but followed his passion to sing in the much-acclaimed Syracuse University Chapel Choir on Sundays. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity which elected Jeannie as its Crescent Girl.
After college, he graduated from the Navy’s flight school in Pensacola, Florida, followed by three tours of duty to Vietnam where he flew the Douglas A-3 Sky Warrior. He and Jeannie Dana, from Canton, NY, were married after his final return from Vietnam. They resided on Whidbey Island, Washington, while Duff completed his active duty as an aviation instructor. He continued in the Navy Reserves until retirement as a Commander.
After his Naval active duty, he pursued his college major while working in Forest Industries with US Plywood and Georgia Pacific. During this period, he and Jeannie labeled themselves corporate nomads while living in the states of Washington, California, Connecticut, Kentucky and Ohio. No one could believe that after retirement they moved north and both loved it.
Throughout the years Duff enjoyed hunting, fishing, tennis, boating, skiing, snowmobiling, adventure traveling, the stock market and other interests. After retirement from the corporate world he became an active trustee in the NH Boat Museum. Because of the Museum’s many outreach programs he remained challenged and interested for 14 years. He’s been a member of the US Power Squadron, a volunteer at the Loon Center, and an officer in the Black Point Association where they have resided in New Hampshire.
In addition to his wife of 51 years, Duff leaves a daughter, Dana Reyes, who lives in Oldsmar, Florida, with her husband, Juventino, and their two sons, Hunter and Evan, who spend every summer here. Their other daughter, Kristen Axton, lives with her husband, Joshua, and their two daughters, Madeline and Scarlett, in Roswell, Georgia.
Friends throughout the country will miss this dynamic person who was genuinely interested in them and always a good listener. A long “to do” list remains on his desk.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 11 am at the Melvin Village Community Church, 476 Governor Wentworth Hwy, Melvin Village, NH 03850 with Pastor Kevin Van Brunt. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the New Hampshire Boat Museum’s Capital Campaign. For donation information please call 603.569.4554, go to NHBM.org or mail to PO Box 1195, Wolfeboro Falls, NH, 03896. Military honors will be presented following the funeral in recognition of Duff’s service to our country. A reception will be held after Duff’s funeral services, details will be announced at the conclusion of the funeral service. Private interment will be held in Arundel Cemetery, Kennebunkport, ME.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Duff‘s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.
Duff graduated from Syracuse University where he was a student in the College of Forestry. He met his wife, Jeannie, there, played in a rock and roll band some Saturdays, but followed his passion to sing in the much-acclaimed Syracuse University Chapel Choir on Sundays. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity which elected Jeannie as its Crescent Girl.
After college, he graduated from the Navy’s flight school in Pensacola, Florida, followed by three tours of duty to Vietnam where he flew the Douglas A-3 Sky Warrior. He and Jeannie Dana, from Canton, NY, were married after his final return from Vietnam. They resided on Whidbey Island, Washington, while Duff completed his active duty as an aviation instructor. He continued in the Navy Reserves until retirement as a Commander.
After his Naval active duty, he pursued his college major while working in Forest Industries with US Plywood and Georgia Pacific. During this period, he and Jeannie labeled themselves corporate nomads while living in the states of Washington, California, Connecticut, Kentucky and Ohio. No one could believe that after retirement they moved north and both loved it.
Throughout the years Duff enjoyed hunting, fishing, tennis, boating, skiing, snowmobiling, adventure traveling, the stock market and other interests. After retirement from the corporate world he became an active trustee in the NH Boat Museum. Because of the Museum’s many outreach programs he remained challenged and interested for 14 years. He’s been a member of the US Power Squadron, a volunteer at the Loon Center, and an officer in the Black Point Association where they have resided in New Hampshire.
In addition to his wife of 51 years, Duff leaves a daughter, Dana Reyes, who lives in Oldsmar, Florida, with her husband, Juventino, and their two sons, Hunter and Evan, who spend every summer here. Their other daughter, Kristen Axton, lives with her husband, Joshua, and their two daughters, Madeline and Scarlett, in Roswell, Georgia.
Friends throughout the country will miss this dynamic person who was genuinely interested in them and always a good listener. A long “to do” list remains on his desk.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 11 am at the Melvin Village Community Church, 476 Governor Wentworth Hwy, Melvin Village, NH 03850 with Pastor Kevin Van Brunt. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the New Hampshire Boat Museum’s Capital Campaign. For donation information please call 603.569.4554, go to NHBM.org or mail to PO Box 1195, Wolfeboro Falls, NH, 03896. Military honors will be presented following the funeral in recognition of Duff’s service to our country. A reception will be held after Duff’s funeral services, details will be announced at the conclusion of the funeral service. Private interment will be held in Arundel Cemetery, Kennebunkport, ME.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Duff‘s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.