William Lewis

William Andrew "W.A." Lewis went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 after an extended illness. He was born in Nolan County, Texas on September 11, 1933 to Lonnie and Flora Lewis. He married the love of his life, Helen "Ginger" Leatherman on July 2, 1977 at his parents' home. They were helpmates to one another for 38 years, leaning upon each other in times of sadness and delighting in the joys life brought them. W.A. worked at Santo Independent School District for 35 years, serving as a teacher, coach, and administrator. He was a beloved teacher who maintained a well-disciplined, organized, and orderly classroom. Those traits served him well in his career as an administrator. Mr. Lewis also coached basketball at SISD and started the football and track programs. The district's football and track facility, W.A. Lewis Field, was renamed in his honor upon his retirement in 1991. According to family and colleagues, W.A. was an extraordinary man who lived a very ordinary life. In his quiet way, he overcame a severe visual handicap to find success in the workforce and his community through personal dedication and perseverance. Mr. Lewis was a mentor to many generations of Santo ISD students and was responsible for more than one becoming an accountant or a math teacher. Though confined to his home for the last two years due to illness, he enjoyed taking family vacations to their farm in Arkansas and to various ski resorts. W.A. enjoyed watching college football and pestering his grandchildren. He was also a fixture at the Santo "coffee bar", where gentlemen would gather for coffee and conversation. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at First Baptist Church of Santo, where he and Ginger were members. Visitation will be Friday, December 4, from 6-8 p.m. at Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner Funeral Home in Mineral Wells. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Santo, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. He is survived by his wife, Ginger Lewis; daughters, Cheryl Ator and husband Richard, and Christi Benevides and husband Armando; son Michael Wright and wife Kim; grandchildren Amanda and Bobby Clevenger, Rebecca Ator, Nikki and Andy Herring, Andy Snider, Kaitlyn and Josiah North, and Kori Wright; great-grandchildren Zoey and Kade Clevenger, Andi, Ty, and Drew Herring, and Natalie North; along with a host of friends and a community who held W.A. in great esteem. Mr. Lewis was preceded in death by his parents, Lonnie and Flora Lewis, and sister Robene Bryant.